Penn State Brandywine softball
Penn State Brandywine softball

Softball Headed Back To Akron For USCAA World Series

MEDIA, Pa. -- For the third consecutive year, Penn State Brandywine will compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Softball World Series in Akron, Ohio, beginning Monday at Firestone Stadium.

Seeded fifth, Brandywine will face No. 4 SUNY Canton during its tournament opening game on Monday at 2:00 pm. The winner advances in the winners bracket to play Tuesday at 4:00 pm, while the loser will play an elimination game at 6:00 pm Monday night.

The Lions look to improve on their fourth-place finish at last year's World Series, the best showing ever by a team from Brandywine at a USCAA Tournament. After winning its tournament opener against Penn College, Brandywine held off elimination by winning two games on day two of the tournament, eliminating conference rival Penn State Hazleton, along with Penn State Beaver, before falling against NHTI. During their first appearance at the USCAA World Series in 2015, Brandywine finished in ninth place.

Earlier this week, Brandywine claimed its third consecutive PSUAC Tournament championship, earning the conference's automatic bid to the USCAA Tournament. Second Team All-PSUAC pitcher Maura Moser limited Penn State Hazleton to one run in 7.0 innings, while senior Julia Allman delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning, propelling the Lions to a 3-1 victory in the title game.

Under the direction of fourth-year Head Coach Mark Caserta, a two-time PSUAC Coach of the Year, Brandywine completed the regular season with a 21-13 overall record, its third consecutive 20-win season.

Now 52-2 against PSUAC teams over the last three years, Brandywine placed four student-athletes on all-conference teams as the league announced its end-of-year awards on Tuesday. Joining Moser as a second team performer was Katie DeStefano, while Arianna Segich and Grace DeRosa claimed first team awards. Segich was also named conference player of the year, the first in Brandywine softball history, after leading the team with a .464 batting average and 33 stolen bases.

SUNY Canton set a school record with 22 victories this spring, finishing the regular season 22-15. The Roos, who joined NCAA Division III in 2015, are led by senior pitcher Jordan Podkladek, who posted a 15-6 record and a 2.72 ERA.

The 10-team, double-elimination tournament runs through Thursday's championship game at Firestone Stadium, the home of the Akron Racers, members of the National Pro Fastpitch League.

USCAA World Series Bracket

Tournament Information