KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team has proved in years past that the playoffs are where it shines brightest. It has succeeded in its goal of reaching the playoffs and now gets the chance to achieve its next goal with a conference championship this week.
 
The Golden Bears (25-21) enter the first round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Division against Mercyhurst University, ranked No. 2 in the Western Division, on Wednesday, May 1 beginning at 1 p.m. in Quakertown, Pa.
 
The winner of the game will move on to the second round of the tournament to play the winner of the West Chester-Lock Haven game, beginning at 10 a.m. earlier that day.
 
Leading the Golden Bears, head coach Judy Lawes enters the week with a chance to win her 800th career win. Her career record in 26 seasons stands at 799-434-2 (.648).
 
Junior Colleen Smith (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip (Hofstra)) leads KU with a .403 batting average and is ranked eighth in the PSAC, behind Courtney Smith of Mercyhurst (.415). Kutzown's Smith is tied for third in the PSAC for most home runs (11) throughout the season and is ranked third in RBI (42). Due to her strong bat, Smith takes the top spot for walks (32) in the PSAC as she forces opposing pitchers to pitch around her. She also ranks second in on-base percentage (.556) and third in slugging percentage (.763) with 50 hits and 11 doubles.
 
Junior Morgan Booth (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) represents the number two spot in hitting for the Golden Bears with a .367 batting average behind Smith. She is tied for seventh in the PSAC for runs scored (35). Booth is also ranked fifth in the PSAC with 55 hits and has led her team with 11 sacrifice hits throughout the season.
 
The Golden Bears top pitcher, sophomore Dominique Ficara (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional (Hofstra)), represents her team with a 2.83 ERA and a 13-12 record in the circle. Ficara is tied for the lead in the PSAC with seven complete game shutouts and is eighth in overall wins (13).
 
Sophomore Mary Kociencki (Columbia, N.J./Sparta ) follows behind Ficara in the rankings when it comes to shutouts. She is ranked 11th in the PSAC with four complete game shutouts this season.
 
Courtney Smith represents Mercyhurst in numerous categories of the PSAC. She is ranked third in on base percentage (.524) with 56 hits and 13 doubles. Smith is also ranked third in doubles and tied for fourth in hits for the PSAC.
 
In the circle, Megan Hopton defends her 3.76 ERA for Mercyhurst this week. With an 11-13 record, Hopton currently has 80 strikeouts this season with one complete game shutout. She is ranked second in the PSAC for strikeouts and 13th in wins as well. Teammate, Annie Truelove is ranked 13th in the PSAC with 52 strikeouts.