RELEASE DATE: 3/02/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mountie Softball Opens 2005 Season in Myrtle Beach, SC on Monday

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University Softball team will open its 2005 season this Monday, March 7th, against Belmont Abbey with a game following against Bloomfield College. This game is part of the Snowbird Softball Tournament. The tournament consists of four days of games, all being played in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

It's not hard to understand why Mansfield University head softball coach Edith Gallagher has high expectations for her 2005 Mountaineers.

Coming off a 27-15 season, that included capturing the ECAC title, while returning eight position starters along with the entire pitching staff, the Mountaineers are posed to make a serious run in the PSAC.

The goal is simple - earn the program's first ever PSAC playoff berth while vying for the conference title -- and the prospects are bright.

Perhaps the brightest star in the Mountaineer lineup belongs to senior Alison Tagliaferri. One of four returning All-PSAC East selections, Tagliaferri earned first team honors ranking among the conference's top hitters and pitchers.

The 6-1 righty has been overpowering on the mound during the course of her career posting an 8-5 record last season with a team best 1.65 ERA while striking out 90 or more batters for the second straight year. An ironhorse on the mound, Tagliaferri completed 14 of 18 games started while throwing a team high three shutouts.

She will be joined in the rotation by fellow senior Amy Martino. Last season, Martino got better as the season got longer finishing with an 8-3 overall record and 2.43 ERA. She was one of the conference's top strikeout pitchers, whiffing 99 batters in 74 innings worked.

While Tagliaferri and Martino can overwhelm most batters, junior Kristen Dean is more of a control pitcher and is the most consistent hurler on the staff. Although injured toward the end of last season, Dean still posted a 7-4 record striking out 60 batters while issuing just nine walks. Sophomore Christine Ross rounds out the staff where she was very effective in her freshman season with a 4-3 mark. The 6'-1" lefty struck out 30 batters in 35 innings worked.

As impressive as the pitching staff is, the strength of the team maybe at the plate. Last season the Mountaineers ranked 4th in the PSAC with a .292 team batting average. They also had plenty of power finishing 3rd in slugging percentage (.439) and fourth in home runs (23).

A three time All-PSAC East selection, Tagliaferri is even more dangerous as a hitter where she finished among the top five in virtually ever offensive category in the PSAC last season. Her .429 batting average was the third highest in the PSAC and she finished first in the conference in slugging percentage (.781) and third in home runs (8). She can play outfield, first base or DH when not on the mound.

Whoever is on the mound will have a talented trio of catchers to throw to. Seniors Marissa Kosydar and Nancy Quinn along with junior Sytiva Seitz combined to catch every game last season with a collective .352 batting average. Quinn, who also serves as a DH, ranked fifth in the PSAC with a .414 batting average leading the team with 46 hits including 11 doubles to earn All-PSAC East honors. Seitz batted .342 on the season with three home runs and 26 RBI's and was the MVP of the ECAC Championship Tournament. Kosydar is an excellent defensive catcher with a strong arm.

Jaclyn Laskowski is one of the most feared power hitters in the PSAC and is a four-year starter at first base. Laskowski, who led the conference in home runs with nine in 2003, ranked sixth in the PSAC in home runs last year with seven. She also drove in 32 runners while earning All-PSAC East honors.

Seniors Alexis Drebitko and Shannon McDonnell will both see starting time at second base. Drebitko hit .246 in 31 games last season while McDonnell had a .233 average in 33 contests. Drebitko could also see time in the outfield.

Strong armed junior Kris Kelly returns to short after batting .260 in 23 games. The sure handed Kelly committed just three errors last season.

Tricia Bailey had a solid season at third base in 2004, batting .300 with eight extra base hits in earning All-PSAC East honors. She will have help from junior Jessica Nordblom, who appeared in 20 games last year, and from redshirt Brittany Walker.

The only thing set in the outfield is returning senior Heather Long. A four year starter, Long appeared in all 41 games last season hitting .300 with 11 extra base hits. A trio of talented freshmen will all vie for starting spots in the outfield. Whitney Brown, Stacey Dean and Shana Markwis are all expected to contribute.