2016 PSAC Softball Championships
April 27-30, 2016
Veterans Park | Quakertown, Pa.
Championships Homepage: PSAC Site |
psacsports.org
Live Stats (Game 1): SidearmStats.com |
Fan Stats |
Media Stats
Live Updates: Twitter |
@IUP_Softball
AT A GLANCE
The IUP softball team heads to Veterans Park in Quakertown this week to compete in the 2016 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships, opening with California (Pa.) on Wednesday at noon. The double elimination tournament starts on April 27, with the champion to be crowned on Saturday, April 30.
THE TEAMS & SEEDS
Nine total schools – the top three teams in each division – earned a postseason berth. Divisional winners include West Chester (East, 14-2 in division), Bloomsburg (Central, 19-1) and California (West, 19-1). The Crimson Hawks earned the third seed in the Central (12-8) while Lock Haven (14-6) joins as the two seed. Also participating are Kutztown (East, 10-6) and Millersville (East, 9-7); Gannon (West, 10-10) and Slippery Rock (West, 9-11).
THE SCHEDULE
Six games are slated for Wednesday, including the Crimson Hawks and California at noon, with one team eliminated in the day's final game. Nine more games and six eliminations are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, with the final two teams playing for the championships at noon on Saturday. A complete daily schedule is available at the above link and at PSACsports.org.
IUP's PSAC HISTORY
The Crimson Hawks won the programs two PSAC championships in 2011 and 2012. Altogether, IUP has 15 conference playoff appearances, including six in the last seven years dating back to 2010.
THE LINEUP
The main lineup all season long for the Crimson Hawks has been
Mackenna Miller (Milton, Pa. /Milton) at catcher (25 starts),
Allison Viguers (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) at first (40),
Rachel Francis (Jefferson, Ohio/Jefferson) at second (43),
Lauren Goetz (Cleveland, Ohio/Cuyahoga Heights) at third (44),
Hannah Mercer (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) at shortstop (44),
Taylor Mercurio (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle) in left field (44),
Megan Gould (New Germany, Pa./Forest Hills) in center (40),
Amy Fairman (Creekside, Pa. /Marion Center) in right (33), with
Amanda Parrish (Dysart, Pa./Altoona) as the designated player (28).
PITCHING WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
IUP boasts one of the top pitching staffs in the conference, as the Crimson Hawks rank sixth with a 2.25 ERA in 44 games this season.
Brooke Darling (Springville, Pa./Elk Lake) went 13-6 with a 1.72 ERA in the regular season, starting 21 times with 13 complete games and six shutouts. She struck out 114 batters in 134.1 innings.
Lauren Zola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle) had an 11-8 record with a 2.54 ERA, striking out 111 in 121.1 innings with 12 complete games and two shutouts. Both Darling and Zola have a one-hitter and a PSAC Central Pitcher of the Week honor to their credit.
SPEED ON THE BASEPATHS
IUP is one of the fastest teams in the tournament, totaling 74 stolen bases on 86 attempts this season. Two players rank in the top 10 in the PSAC, with Mercer stealing 18 and Mercurio swiping 12. Goetz is a perfect 11-for-11 while Gould has seven this season. IUP also has 62 doubles and nine triples on the year, with Mercer hitting 15 and four, respectively.
PSAC EXPERIENCE
Eight current Crimson Hawks have a played in a combined 40 PSAC tournament games, including Mercer, Viguers and Gould with eight games apiece. Mercer has a .290 career average with four RBIs in the conference tournament, while Viguers has two home runs and Gould is hitting .280.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP softball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_Softball.
