Courtesy of Bryan Kast, PSAC Director of Strategic Communications

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Shepherd University softball team has been picked to finish sixth in the PSAC Eastern Division in the 2025 PSAC Preseason Poll released by the league office today. East Stroudsburg was selected as the favorite in the Eastern Division and Gannon was the coaches' choice in the Western Division.

East Stroudsburg sits atop the Eastern Division poll after collecting five first-place votes, with West Chester (second in the poll) and Shippensburg (fourth) each collecting a pair of first-place votes. In the Western Division poll, Gannon received six first-place votes, outpacing IUP (second in the poll) and California (third), which each received a single first-place vote.

Find the complete polls as well as division outlooks below.
 
EASTERN DIVISION (# of first place votes)
 
1. East Stroudsburg (5)
2. West Chester (2)
3. Kutztown
4. Shippensburg (2)
5. Bloomsburg
6. Shepherd
7. Lock Haven
8. Millersville
9. Mansfield
 
WESTERN DIVISION (# of first place votes)
 
1. Gannon (6)
2. IUP (1)
3. California (1)
4. Slippery Rock
5. Seton Hill
6. Edinboro
7. Clarion
8. Pitt-Johnstown

EASTERN DIVISION

The top spot in the Eastern Division's preseason poll was secured by East Stroudsburg for the second consecutive season. The Warriors (46-17 overall, 23-9 PSAC in 2024) advanced to the 2024 PSAC Softball Championship last spring. Freshman pitcher Sarah Davenport spun up a historic debut season, leading the conference in ERA (1.31), wins (25), saves (8), and strikeouts (322). Offensively, junior Taylor Lipkins (.370 average, 42 runs scored) and sophomore Delaney Ridgell (.355, 30 RBIs) were both All-Conference honorees.
 
Voted second in the 2025 PSAC Softball Preseason Poll is West Chester (36-22, 18-13 PSAC). The Golden Rams defeated East Stroudsburg to claim the 2024 PSAC Softball Championship behind Tournament MVP Danielle Ciliberto's pitching exploits and Mairead Hopkins' five home runs in the tourney. Hopkins, (.348 average in 2024 along with 41 RBIs) along with returners Casey Best (.316, 20 runs scored) and Hailey Melvin (.292, 28 runs scored, 25 RBIs) should bolster the offense while Ciliberto returns in the circle. Her ERA of 2.48 was fifth-best in the PSAC in 2024 while her 208.2 innings and 23 wins were second-most.

The Kutztown Golden Bears (37-25, 19-13 PSAC) come in third in this year's poll. Senior pitcher Haley Gravish should return to the circle after pitching a PSAC-best 223.2 innings last season. Brianna Stocklin (.374, 52 runs scored, 22 RBI) leads KU's returning bats – along with Emily Henn (.361, 43 runs, 49 RBIs) and Alexa Stevens (.333, 44 runs, 45 RBIs).
 
Shippensburg (36-21, 18-14 PSAC), fourth in this year's poll, also returns plenty of talent. Caitlyn Martell (.398, 58 runs scored, 49 RBIs) and Sarah Sabocsik (.352, 38 runs, 47 RBIs) are back to spearhead the offense while Alicia Ball (whose 194.2 innings pitched were 113 more than anyone else on the Raiders' roster) is back to lead the pitching staff.

The remainder of the 2025 PSAC Softball Eastern Division Preseason Poll is rounded out by Bloomsburg at No. 5, Shepherd at No. 6, Lock Haven at No. 7, Millersville at No. 8, and Mansfield at No. 9.
 
WESTERN DIVISION
 
The Western Division's top team in the 2025 poll is Gannon (32-15 overall, 25-6 PSAC in 2024). The Golden Knights' .331 team batting average was third-best in the conference, led by Natalia Mallozzi (.440, 36 runs, 33 RBIs) and Emma Smerick (.385, 43 runs, 27 RBIs), who should both return this spring. Also back is 2024 PSAC West Pitcher of the Year Maggie Lenda, whose 2.44 ERA was fourth-lowest in the PSAC.
 
Behind Gannon is IUP at No. 2, which ended 2024 with a record of 29-25 (15-17 PSAC) but return a lot of talent this spring, including Madison Pikula (.425, 61 runs, 35 RBIs), Paige Truax (.410, 43 runs), Jaycee Haidze (.364, 9 HRs, 53 RBIs), Delaney Patella (.349, 9 HRs, 42 RBIs), and Jordan Sylvia (.346, 8 HRs, 57 RBIs.) Kendall Young handled the bulk of the pitching duties as a freshman, with 143 innings pitched and a 3.28 ERA.
 
The No. 3 team in the 2025 West poll is California (23-20, 20-12 PSAC), who will have to replace 2024 PSAC West Athlete of the Year Caleigh Rister, who led the Vulcans at the plate (.434 average) and in the circle (3.61 ERA in 143.2 innings). Alyssa Rose started 20 games last spring and tossed 101.1 innings to return as the most experienced pitcher, while also hitting .348 with 6 HRs and 39 RBIs at the plate. Carlena Fiorilli (.336, 32 runs scored) and Mikayla Linkous (.309 average) should also return to lead the lineup.
 
Slippery Rock comes in at No. 4 after finishing 2024 with an overall record of 25-27 (18-13 PSAC). Alexsa Hurd (2.90 ERA in 123 innings pitched) returns in the circle to lead The Rock's pitching staff and also hit .304 at the plate with 10 HRs and 30 RBIs. Also back are Julia Montie (.306, 12 HRs, 36 RBIs) and Arielle Brown (.303, 39 runs, 29 RBIs).
 
Completing the top five teams in the 2025 poll is Seton Hill (37-17, 23-9 PSAC), which must replace two starting pitchers (Lauren Dellett and Logan Hartman) who combined to pitch 320.4 innings last season. Plenty of adept hitters return, though, including Kassidy Wittig (.427, 43 runs scored), Brooklyn Fukuskima (.371, 38 runs, 34 RBIs), and Grace Paredes (.368, 41 runs, 14 HRs, 56 RBIs).
 
The remainder of the 2024 PSAC Softball Western Division Preseason Poll is rounded out by No. 6 Edinboro, No. 7 Clarion, and No. 8 Pitt-Johnstown.