Feb. 29, 2008

Bay City, Mich. - The Mercyhurst College softball team was picked to finish eighth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), by a poll of conference coaches. Eight of the 11 GLIAC softball teams will advance to the GLIAC Tournament at the conclusion of the regular season.

Mercyhurst received 39 points after going 11-9 in the conference a year ago and finishing fifth. The Lakers were picked to finish ahead of Hillsdale (27 points), Findlay (20 points), and Lake Superior State (12 points).

Wayne State, which won the GLIAC regular season crown in 2007, was picked to finish fourth with 94 points and four first place votes. Four different teams received at least one first place vote. Grand Valley State received four first place votes as well and had 89 points to be picked second. Ferris State and Gannon each had one first place vote and 79 points to tie for third.

Ashland was fifth with 63 points and Saginaw Valley State was sixth with 54 points. Northwood ended one spot in front of Mercyhurst with 49 points.

Mercyhurst completed its spring break trip with a record of 3-5, winning 2-of-3 games against Alma and 1-of-5 against Concordia St. Paul. Sophomore shortstop Megan Houston is the team's only returning all-conference player after batting .279 with four homers a year ago.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the GLIAC will hold its eight-team double elimination conference tournament May 2-4 at the Emerson Park Softball Complex in Midland, Mich.