SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Susquehanna University softball team has been picked to finish fifth in the Commonwealth Conference preseason coaches' poll, the conference office announced Tuesday.

The Crusaders (18-13 overall, 7-7 Commonwealth) return 12 letterwinners and seven members of the starting lineup from last year's squad, which finished third in the conference last season and earned the program's first playoff victory since 1999.

Third-year head coach Kathy Kroupa welcomes back four hitters that finished the season with batting averages above .300, including sophomore outfielder Kristin Boccafola (.333) and senior catcher Deanna York (.313). The pitching staff features four hurlers with starting experience, including senior righthander Heather Litzebauer (7-5, 1.56 ERA) and junior righthander Jess Nastelli (6-5, 2.28 ERA).

Four-time defending Commonwealth postseason champion Moravian received the maximum seven first-place votes to take the top spot in the poll with 49 points, followed by Lebanon Valley, Messiah, Juniata, Susquehanna, Widener, Albright and Elizabethtown.

Susquehanna kicks off its 2005 season with a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. during the week of March 6. The Crusaders open their home schedule on Saturday, March 19 against Elizabethtown.