ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Softball team will be back on the Mercyhurst Softball Field this Friday and Saturday for a pair of doubleheaders. The first tomorrow against California, and the second the following day against Seton Hill.

1.) PSAC West Implications

As the Lakers get deeper into their schedule, every game from here on out besides a series with Walsh will be a PSAC West game. The Lakers currently sit in sixth position in the standings with a 2-4 in-conference record. With only the top four teams from each division making the playoff tournament, it will be crucial for the Lakers to come away with a couple of conference wins this weekend. Seton Hill currently sits a position above the Lakers with a 3-3 record, and the Vulcans are tied at the top with a perfect 4-0 PSAC West record.

2.) Juniors Leading the Way

The junior class for the Lakers has stepped up in a big way this season for Head Coach Leanne Baker. The four juniors of Madison Fry, Brianne Egelston, Marisa Cartellone, and Allison Dejidas are all batting over .289 this season which no one else on the team has done. Combined, the quartet has collected 127 hits, 58 RBI's, and 15 doubles. In the field,  junior shortstop Anna O'Geen joins Fry as the only two Lakers with significant playing time to not record an error.

3.) Runs Galore!

Yesterday in game two against UPJ, the Lakers recorded their most runs in one game this season by putting up 10 of the Mountain Cats. Redshirt Freshman Kacie Irwin led the way with 6 RBI's including a grand slam in the second inning. The home run was her first as a Laker. Dejidas homered as well as the Lakers made quick work of UPJ as the mercy rule was implemented after just five innings.

4.) Scouting the Competition

California (PA) will enter tomorrow's matchups with a 14-7 record and as mentioned before a perfect 4-0 mark in conference play. Freshman Caleigh Rister leads the team with a .429 batting average, she also leads the Vulcans with 27 hits, four for triples, and three home runs. She has also been effective from the circle with a 9-2 record and an ERA of .92 which is good enough for second best in the conference.

Seton Hill is currently 26-7 on the year and 3-3 inside the PSAC West. This will be the second time this season that the two teams have played one another with the Lakers earning a 9-6 victory over the Griffins back on March, 18th in Greensburg. The Lakers will need to make sure their bats continue to stay hot as Seton Hill has three players with a sub 2.00 ERA in Morgan Ryan (1.09), Logan Hartmann (1.69), and Chloe Elliot (1.70).

5.) Statistical Ranks

After yesterday's games Fry is now the NCAA Division II leader in batting average (.511). She has collected 48 hits in 94 at bats and has 22 runs scored. Her hits rank her fourth in the PSAC and her on base percentage ranks fourth as well. On the mound  Mikaela Schramski ranks second in the PSAC in wins (10) and innings pitched (89.0), while Morgan Hilty's 1.77 ERA ranks her eighth in the conference.