INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP softball program was picked to finish fourth in the division as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released its 2022 preseason coaches' polls Tuesday afternoon.
Seton Hill is the favorite to win the PSAC West with seven of the nine first place votes. Gannon, with the remaining two first place votes, was picked second. Cal U was picked ahead of the Crimson Hawks in third while Mercyhurst trailed IUP in fifth. The rest of the division included Edinboro in sixth, Clarion and Slippery Rock tied for seventh, and Pitt-Johnstown ninth.
In the East Division, West Chester is the favorite with six first place votes while Kutztown was picked second with three first place votes.
Last season
The Crimson Hawks finished 2021 with a 17-15 overall record and missed out on a chance at the PSAC tournament with a fifth place finish in the West, going 15-13 in league play.
Who's back for IUP
The Hawks return a pair of All-PSAC players in junior utility player
Haleigh Zimmerman and junior pitcher
Hope Jones. One of only three IUP players to start all 32 games, Zimmerman hit .314 with a .451 slugging percentage, and tied for second on the team with 23 RBI. Jones finished last season with 111 strikeouts and 9.5 strikeouts per seven innings, some of the best marks in Division II, with six complete games in 15 starts.
IUP also brings back grad infielder
Renee Wall, the 2019 PSAC Central Athlete of the Year and former all-region selection at third base. She's among IUP's all-time leaders in walks (64 - 3rd), doubles (38 - 4th), slugging pct. (.589 - 4th), batting average (.349 - 8th), RBI (87 - 13th), and home runs (14 - 12th).
Follow
For coverage of the IUP softball program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPsoftball and online at IUPAthletics.com.
EAST (# of First-Place Votes)
1. West Chester (6)
2. Kutztown (3)
3. East Stroudsburg
4. Shepherd
5. Shippensburg
6. Bloomsburg
7. Lock Haven
8. Millersville
9. Mansfield
WEST (# of First-Place Votes)
1. Seton Hill (7)
2. Gannon (2)
3. Cal U
4. IUP
5. Mercyhurst
6. Edinboro
T7. Clarion
T7. Slippery Rock
9. Pitt-Johnstown
