BLOOMSBURG—Bloomsburg University will be making its 20th straight trip to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference softball playoffs May 3-4 when the Huskies travel to California (PA) and Roadman Park in search of another championship.

Bloomsburg, 35-5 and ranked third in the country in Division II, is the top seed from the PSAC East after posting a record of 21-3. The Huskies will face the second-seeded team from the PSAC West, Lock Haven, which comes in with a record of 34-11, 16-4 in conference play, at noon. The first game will pit California (PA), 29-3, 19-1 PSAC, the top seed from West against Shippensburg, 31-14, 16-4, the number two seed from the East. The losers of the first two games play at 2 p.m. in the first elimination game of the tournament, while the winners will meet at 4 p.m. Bloomsburg will be looking for its 14th championship, while California is bidding for its seventh PSAC title.

Pictured: Amanda Breon

Unlike in past years when the Huskies have had one or two dominant players, this year's team features a more balanced offensive attack. During the season 12 different players have hit a home run and 10 players have 10 or more runs batted in. The offense is led by freshman Steph Levonick with a .410 batting mark with a homer and 12 RBI. Levonick has taken over at shortstop this season for the Huskies. Playing next to Levonick has been freshman third baseman Amanda Breon who is hitting .265 with two homers and 11 RBI. Breon has started 39 of the 40 games played this season.

Senior outfielder Lisa Mull is second in hitting at .403 with four homers and 25 RBI, while fellow outfielder Jess Shnyder is batting .399 with seven homers and 30 RBI from her leadoff spot. Shndyer leads the Huskies in runs scored with 40, in hits with 55 and in triples with four.

Two part-time players have also made big contributions for Bloomsburg this season. DH/Catcher Becca Kehler is hitting .373 with eight homers and 23 RBI in just 51 at-bats, while Sara Roba is batting .366 with a homer and 13 RBI. Roba's three-run homer against Kutztown gave Bloomsburg a come-from-behind win over Kutztown.

Overall, the Huskies are batting .327 with 39 home runs this season. In all 12 different players have hit at least one home run this season for Bloomsburg.

Pictured: Amber Cowher

The Huskies pitching staff is as strong and deep as ever this season. Senior Kerri Cooper leads the group with a 15-2 record and a 0.81 ERA. Cooper has thrown five shutouts, including one perfect game, and has 105 strikeouts in 104 innings of work. Sophomore Amber Cowher is 9-2 this year with a 1.31 ERA and three shutouts. She had 66 strikeouts in 69 innings of work. In addition, two freshmen, Amanda Smith and Jamie Wilson, have also played significant roles for Bloomsburg on the mound. Smith is 6-1 with a 1.54 ERA, while Wilson is 5-0 with a 1.72 ERA.

Lock Haven set a school-record for wins this year with 34, breaking the old mark of 31 set in 1988. Lock Haven will be making its first PSAC playoff appearance since 1995 and 15th overall. Lock Haven's only PSAC title came in 1982 and was the last time a school other than Bloomsburg or California has walked away with the title.

Leading the Lady Eagles in hitting is Lynette Murray with a mark of .434 with four homers and 36 RBI, while Lynn Spiezio is second at .360 with a homer and 15 RBI. Lock Haven pitching is led Molly Shuey, the PSAC West Pitcher of the Week last week, who is 12-2 with a 1.57 ERA. Shuey has 58 strikeouts in 93 innings of work. Last week Shuey earned the PSAC honor after going 3-0 last week with, including a three-hit shutout over California (PA). Michelle Boone is 12-5 for the Lady Eagles with a 2.02 ERA with Kelly Deitrick 10-3 with a 2.09 ERA.

Bloomsburg swept Lock Haven in a twinbill earlier this season.

California, the top seed in the West, is 29-3 on the year. The Vulcans are led in hitting by Kimmie Miller with a mark of .431 with a homer and 28 RBI, while Daysha Grimes is a close second at .417 on the season with 5 homers and 39 RBI.

Melissa Brooks, who is 6-0 with a 0.71 ERA, and Rose Walsh, who is 4-0 with a 0.92 ERA, lead the Cal pitching staff.

Shippensburg is making its 15th appearance in the tournament and first since 1999.  The young Red Raider squad starts six freshmen, including outfielders Jamie Dacey who is batting .401 with 30 RBI and Liz Corr at .379 with 37 runs scored. The workhorse of the pitching staffing is Lindsey Williams who is 13-6 with a 2.37 ERA with Nicole Brunt at 9-4 with a 2.30 ERA.

The winner of the PSAC tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA championships that begin next week.