ANNVILLE, PA – The Susquehanna University softball team has been picked to finish third in the annual Commonwealth Conference coaches’ poll, as selected by the league’s eight head coaches.

Two-time defending champion Moravian was picked to finish first in the poll, followed by Messiah and Susquehanna. Last year, the Crusaders shared the regular-season title with the Lady Greyhounds before Moravian swept their way to the postseason championship.

The Crusaders, under second-year head coach Cheri Swineford, are led by senior third baseman Shelly Zimmerman, who is batting .400 with one homer and eight runs batted in through 10 games. Junior second baseman Erin Nittinger (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville H.S.) is hitting .290 and is tied for the team lead with seven runs scored, while freshman Heather Litzebauer leads the pitching staff with a 4-2 record and a 1.24 earned run average.

Lebanon Valley is picked for fourth by the coaches, followed by Albright, Widener, Juniata, and Elizabethtown. The top four teams qualify for the conference playoffs May 3-4 at Lebanon Valley, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Susquehanna (5-4-1) kicks off its Commonwealth Conference schedule on Saturday with a doubleheader at Albright beginning at 1 p.m.