The Misericordia University softball team will open a three-game series with Stevens in the MAC Freedom Championships, Friday at 1:00 at Anderson Field.

The top-seeded Cougars are 23-4, including a perfect 11-0 record at home.  Stevens, 20-7, is seeded second.  The "if necessary" game will be played at Stevens, Saturday at 3:00.  The MAC Freedom champion will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

Misericordia is seeking its first conference title since 2012 while Stevens is in its first season in the MAC Freedom.  This series marks the first meeting between the two teams.

Misericordia is led by sophomore pitcher Alexa McHugh, a first-team All-MAC Freedom selection.  She is 12-1 with a 1.56 ERA.

Second baseman Nicole Elliott is a first-team All-MAC Freedom selection and MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year.   She leads the Cougars with a .438 batting average and has hit safely in 25 of 27 games.

Senior center fielder Maddie Holub is second on the team in hitting (.408) and is tied for the team lead with 12 stolen bases.

Sophomore first baseman Kaitlin Redling is hitting .397 and leads the team with 13 multi-hit games. 

Senior catcher Brianna Holder is hitting .325 and is third on the team with 20 RBI while senior shortstop Amanda Butera is hitting .311 and is tied for the team lead with 12 stolen bases.

Stevens is led by MAC Freedom Player of the Year Samantha Schattin and Pitcher of the Year Jessie Masur.

Schattin is hitting .561 while Masur is 14-2 with a 1.17 ERA.  Meg Halloran is hitting .516 and joined Schattin as a first-team All-MAC Freedom outfielder.