The Misericordia University softball team will host the MAC Freedom Championships, Thursday-Saturday at Anderson Field.
 
Misericordia, 25-11, is the top seed and will host Stevens in the first round, Thursday at 3:30.  Second-seeded FDU-Florham will face third-seeded Lebanon Valley at 1:00. 
 
The winners will meet Friday at 12:00 with the loser's playing an elimination game, Friday at 2:00.
 
Misericordia is 5-1 against the field, including sweeps of Stevens and Lebanon Valley.  The Cougars are making their 12^th consecutive appearance in the postseason and are coming off a second-place finish a year ago.
 
Lebanon Valley is the two-time defending league champion.
 
Misericordia is second in the league in team batting (.329) and has scored a league-best 248 runs.
 
MU's Kiersten Tinio (.452) and Casey Funesti (.447) and third and fourth, respectively, in the league in batting while Bridget Doherty (.409) is eighth.
 
Tinio (.525) and Doherty (.514) are 1-2 in the league in on-base %.
 
Doherty leads the league with 46 runs scored, second with 31 stolen bases and fifth with 47 hits.
 
Casey Funesti is second in the league with 33 RBI and third with 51 hits.
 
Mackenzie Fizer (29) is fifth in the league in RBI and Gianna Russo (28) is sixth.
 
Gabby Cruz (14-3) leads the MAC in wins and is third with 73 strikeouts.
 
Jennifer Milisits is second in the league with 1.40 earned run average and Cruz is fifth at 2.34.