BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team has been picked to win the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season title as the 2022 MASCAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll was released today by conference director of media relations, Emily Loux.

The Bears, who captured the MASCAC Tournament title in 2021, received 48 points in the poll and picked up six of the eight first-place votes. Defending conference regular season champion Framingham State University finished second in the poll with 44 points and two first-place votes, while Fitchburg State University (33 pts.) rounded out the top three teams.

Under the guidance of head coach Lindsey Couturier (5th Year), the Bridgewater State softball team will return to the diamond next month to open the 2022 campaign. Bridgewater finished the COVID adjusted 2021 season in second place in the MASCAC standings with a 6-3-1 conference mark (17-11-1 overall). The Bears defeated Framingham State in the best-of-three MASCAC Championship Series, two games to one, to advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 23rd time in program history.

Returning veterans Kelley Reichert (Sr., P, Milford, Mass.), Laura Hatch (Sr., P, Middleboro, Mass.) and Madelyn Klingel (So., P, Windsor, Conn.) will help anchor the pitching staff in 2022.

Reichert was selected to the All-MASCAC First Team in 2021 and was named the MASCAC Pitcher of the Year.

Veteran field position returnees include Ava Novakoski (So., 1B, Auburn, Mass.), Madison Synan (Gr., C, Quincy, Mass.), Megan Sharon (Sr., SS, East Longmeadow, Mass.), Emma Healy (Sr., OF, Plymouth, Mass.), Janet Jolly (So., OF, Raynham, Mass.), Morgan Cournoyer (So., 1B, Burrillville, R.I.), Kerrin McLaughlin (Jr., 2B, Haverhill, Mass.), Alexandra Ruprecht (Gr., OF, Kingston, Mass.), Olivia Silva (Jr., INF, Somerset, Mass.), Molly Thibaudeau (So., OF, Lincoln, R.I.), Kim Scanlon (Sr., 3B, Medford, Mass.) and Madison Dana (Jr., C/DP, Lynn, Mass.).

Synan, McLaughlin and Ruprecht garnered All-MASCAC First Team accolades in 2021, while Sharon, Healy, Cournoyer and Dana were All-MASCAC Second Team honorees.

Newcomers to the squad are Emily Marcotte (Fr. UTL, North Dighton, Mass.), Madison Flamme (So., OF, Bethel, Conn.), Ashleigh Hartsfield (Fr. C/1B, Cumberland, R.I.), Riley Fitzgerald (Fr. INF, Swansea, Mass.), McKayla Cusack (Fr., P, West Haven, Conn.) and Amelia Blake (Fr., 2B/SS, Raynham, Mass.).

The Bears will open the season on Saturday, March 5th (10:30 AM) when they take on Finlandia University at The Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida. Bridgewater will play ten games during the spring break trip before returning North. The Bears' home opener is on Thursday, March 17th, a doubleheader starting at 3:00 PM against Dean College.