Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst softball team, following a third consecutive 20+-win season, will attempt to return to the postseason in 2010. The Lakers went 20-23, 6-10 in PSAC West play during the 2009 season, being edged out of postseason contention on the last day of competition. Mercyhurst opens the 2010 campaign in N.C. Feb. 12 at Chowan University, and has a trip to Fla. Scheduled for Spring Break week.

Seventh-year head coach Sara Headley, the winningest coach in program history, holds a 121-150-1 career record, and has led the team to four out of its five winningest seasons. She will field an experienced squad which returns all eight starting position players and both starting pitchers. The Lakers have four senior starters on the roster, and six players start for the third year in a row.

The Lakers will build on a 2009 campaign which saw the team score the second most runs in a season in program history, while batting .281 as a team. Mercyhurst went 6-10 in the PSAC's Western Division, splitting season series with Edinboro, Gannon and Slippery Rock to finish in fourth place.

Coach Headley said, “Moving into the PSAC, with another year under our belt, I think we have a good idea of what to expect. I think we have a lot of talent on the team. We just need to find a way to show it on the field. It should definitely be a good year.”

Following their season-opening trips to N.C. and Fla., the Lakers will play in invitationals at Glenville State March 12-13 and Salem, Va. March 19-20. The Lakers will open PSAC West play March 26 vs. California (Pa.) , the first of three home double-headers in four days, a stretch which concludes with a twinbill against Gannon March 29.

Mercyhurst returns both starting pitchers form a year ago, as junior Amanda Norman and sophomore Kristi Janoske will split time in the circle. Norman led the team with a 2.47 ERA and 102 strikeouts, going 9-11 on the year. She also fashioned two shutouts, including a one-hitter of rival Gannon. Janoske won a team-high 10 games against 11 losses in 2009, and was named PSAC West Pitcher of the Week April 6. She recorded a 3.04 ERA, going the distance 12 times, including a two-hit shutout vs. Slippery Rock.

Sophomore Sydney Cuscino will transition to the pitching staff following a freshman year spent in the outfield. Freshman Megan Hopton enters the staff in a relief role.

Coach Headley said, “On the mound, which is always the big question, we still have Kristi and Amanda; they're another year older now, which I think is going to help. We're going to ask them to be more consistent this year.”

The starting infield remains intact from 2009, with junior Michelle Schmitz handling the hot corner. Megan Houston returns for her fourth year as the starting shortstop. Schmitz had a breakout year in 2009, batting .321 while leading the team with six homers and a program-record 43 RBI. Houston earned All-PSAC West Second Team mention last season, posting a .350 average, good for second on the team, and led the team with 11 doubles to go with 31 RBI and 26 runs scored.

On the right side of the infield, sophomore Emily Redig starts at second base, while Erica Beidler plays first. Redig made an immediate impact on the Lakers, adding power to the middle of the lineup with four home runs while batting .319. Beidler won the starting job at first, and hit .243 on the season with 11 RBI. She led the team with a .980 fielding percentage.

Andrea Sauers returns as a middle infield utility player, as she started seven times last season, committing no errors. Freshmen Julie Harmon and Molly McNamara will compete for time in the infield this season.

Coach Headley said, “I would foresee the same starting lineup that we had last year, with Michelle Schmitz at third, Megan Houston at shortstop, Emily (Redig) at second, and Erica Beidler at first base, but she's going to be competing, probably with Julie Harmon, for that spot as well.”

At catcher. senior Anna Glomb and sophomore Jen Bower return after splitting the starts behind the plate last season. Each receiver improved her hitting toward the end of the season. Glomb batted .243 for the season, but registered two homers and 10 RBI during the final week of play, batting .400 over the last 10 games of the season. Bower recorded hits in 9 out of final 10 games of season, batting .343 with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBI over the last week of play. The non-starting catcher started at designated player the last week of 2009.

Coach Headley added, “We're returning both of our catchers from last year. I thought they both did a good job behind the plate. Last year, they struggled with their bats, but I don't see that being as much of an issue this year.”

For the second year in a row, the starting outfield will consist of seniors Elizabeth Maier and Amber Rapose and junior Kara Gorgos. Maier, a 2009 All-PSAC West First Team selection, shifted to left field last season, and was an effective lead-off hitter, leading the team with a .446 average, 36 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. She tied for first on the team with six outfield assists. Gorgos patrolled center field last season after a year at second base. She batted .238 with 25 runs scored, and had a strong finish to the season. She also threw out six runners from center. Rapose transitioned from third base to right field in 2009, hitting .203 while leading the team with five triples. She hit a game-winning homer against Edinboro.

Freshman Kristen Fyffe will compete for an outfield spot, while Amanda Walker will also battle for time.

Coach Headley said, “Outfield-wise, we'll probably stay with the same starters we had last year at this point. We had one freshman (Fyffe) that came in who is just outstanding, and if she doesn't break into the starting lineup this year as an outfielder, she may see some time as a DH.”

The Lakers' 2010 campaign brings high expectations, with Mercyhurst utilizing an experienced and talented roster which returns all of its starters.