Directions
Visitor's Guide
Mercyhurst Softball Web Site
Lock Haven Softball Web Site
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – For the first time in school history, West Chester University will host the PSAC Softball Tournament at its South Campus Complex this Friday and Saturday. The Golden Rams are making their first appearance in the conference postseason tournament in school history.
The first round is comprised of three pools of three teams each. The winners of each pool then advance to the final round the following weekend, April 30-May 1. All rounds are in a double-elimination format.
Mercyhurst, the second seed out of the Western Division, and Lock Haven, the third seed out of the Central Division, travel to Eastern Division champion West Chester. The weekend schedule is as follows:
Friday, April 23
Game 1: Mercyhurst vs. Lock Haven, 11 a.m.
Game 2: West Chester vs. loser of game one, 1 p.m.
Game 3: West Chester vs. winner of game one, 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 24
If all three teams remain, lots will be drawn to determine which teams play in game four and which receives a bye to game five. If two teams remain after Friday, the two teams will play one or two games to determine a champion. Game times for Saturday are schedule for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. (if necessary).
Admission to the playoff games at West Chester is free. However, the parking lot behind the right field fence will be reserved for handicapped and staff parking only. Bleacher seating will be available in right field as well to accommodate handicapped individuals and their families.
Central Division champion Bloomsburg hosts Kutztown (second seed in the East) and Edinboro (third seed in the West) while California (Pa.), the Western Division champion, hosts Indiana (Pa.) (second seed in the Central) and East Stroudsburg (third seed in the East) in the other two pods.
“We are very excited,” head coach Diane Lokey said when asked about the opportunity the postseason brings. “Our program has never been to the PSAC Tournament, so to host (a portion of it) is even more special. Both Mercyhurst and Lock Haven are excellent programs. We definitely have to be ready to play.
“The PSAC has always been a strong conference. I think we have shown that we can contend. Now, we have to continue to build on that momentum.”
West Chester (29-15) is ranked seventh in the latest NCAA Atlantic Region polls. The Golden Rams are looking to improve their positioning for the NCAA Tournament with a solid showing this weekend at home. Neither Mercyhurst (23-21) nor Lock Haven (20-19) appear in the latest NCAA regional rankings. The PSAC champion, crowned on May 1, will receive an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Division II Softball Championships.
