Feb. 22, 2008

Erie, Pa. - A youthful and inexperienced Mercyhurst softball team will open its season Sunday as the Lakers play in the Gene Cusic Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla. Feb. 24-28. Following the winningest season in program history, Mercyhurst will have work to do to develop players prior to conference play.

Head coach Sara Headley, beginning her fifth year with a record of 76-97-1, needs just one win to become the all-time winningest coach in Mercyhurst softball history. But she will need to bring along a team that graduated its top two pitchers and three of its top four hitters from a year ago.

There are pieces in place however. Captain Jessica McNurlen started 24 games in the outfield a year ago and slammed five home runs. She will lead a team that returns four positional starters. Senior Erin Ratajczak hit .320 and started all 45 games last year and will play alongside McNurlen in the outfield. The Lakers are also strong on the left side of the infield as sophomore shortstop Megan Houston (.279 batting average and four homers in 43 starts in 2007) and junior third baseman Danielle Zubek (.224 batting average and three homers in 38 starts) add a veteran presence. Sophomore Anna Glomb split time as a catcher last year, starting 19 games, as well.

Playing in its final season as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), Mercyhurst will play a full slate of 20 conference games, as well as a pre-conference schedule that includes three tournaments that should prepare this team well - The Gene Cusic Tournament (Fort Myers, Fla.), the Francis Marion Invitational (Florence, S.C.), and the Salem Invitational (Salem, Va.). The Lakers also host future conference opponents Clarion and Slippery Rock in a preview of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) battles beginning in 2009.

Mercyhurst opens its season by playing Concordia-St. Paul in a doubleheader Sunday in the Gene Cusic Tournament.