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The 2024 softball team. Photo by Robert Cifone.
The 2024 softball team. Photo by Robert Cifone.

Softball secures ninth seed in USCAA National Championship

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DUBOIS, Pa. --- For the 12th year in a row, Carlow University softball will compete at the USCAA Small College World Series, May 13-16 in DuBois, Pa.

The Celtics have earned a bid to the tournament every year since 2012, excluding 2020 when the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last season, the Celtics ended their run in the championship tournament after losses to D'Youville University and Mississippi University for Women.

The double-elimination tournament takes place at Heindl Field in DuBois, Pa. and features the top-10 college/university softball programs in the nation.

The No. 9-seed Celtics (13-23) face No. 8-seed Southern Maine Community College (16-26) Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m.

Carlow holds several tournament records, including most runs in a game (20) from 2022 versus host school Penn State DuBois. The Celtics also hold the record for most hits in a game (18 versus Penn State Brandywine in 2016) and most RBIs in a game (17 versus Penn State DuBois in 2022).

Carlow is batting .286 with 169 runs and a .371 slugging percentage with six home runs on the season.

Junior catcher/shortstop McKenna Pierce leads the team with a .377 average and a .623 slugging percentage, including five home runs, a triple, nine doubles and 26 RBI over 40 hits.

Senior Clara Niglio (7-10) leads the Celtics in the circle with a 4.00 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 98 innings.

Junior outfielder/pitcher Megan Pollinger earned 2023 First Team All-American honors last season.

The Seawolves are batting .403 with 253 runs and a .613 slugging percentage with 18 home runs on the year.

Veronica Mercier leads the USCAA and the team with a .654 batting average and ranks second in the nation with 32 stolen bases on the year.

Sarah Wilkins leads the Seawolves in the circle and ranks fifth in the USCAA with a 2.09 ERA. She ranks fourth in the league with 119 strikeouts this season.

The series begins tonight with the home run derby and awards presentation at Showers Field.

Follow the Celtics throughout the tournament at the links above, or on the official USCAA Championships website at: https://uscaaspringchampionships.com/landing/index