TOWSON, Md. – The Moravian College softball team has been picked to finish second in the 2014 Landmark Conference Coaches Preseason Poll, released by the league office on Tuesday morning.

The Greyhounds received 51 points, which included tallies from three first-place votes, and are ranked second behind defending Landmark Conference champions Susquehanna University by just three points.

"I feel very good with the blend of veteran players and newcomers as we enter the season," head coach John Byrne said. "We have high expectations of being very competitive in the pursuit of the Landmark Conference Championship."

Susquehanna ended Moravian's run of five straight Landmark titles – and 13 consecutive conference titles dating back to 2000 when the school was a member of the Commonwealth Conference of the MAC – by winning its first Landmark crown in 2013. The Crusaders earned the remaining four first-place votes in the 2014 Preseason Poll.

Moravian compiled a 30-12 overall record last season, the 13th straight year with 30 or more wins, and finished 7-3 in Landmark Conference play. Byrne, entering his 21st season at the helm, returns a team that includes 14 letter-winners and nine starters, including two Landmark All-Conference honorees in seniors catcher Cassie Ernst and outfielder Miranda Sergas.

The Greyhounds begin the 2014 season at the National Training Complex in Clermont, Fla. for an eight-game Spring Game trip beginning on Monday, March 3. Landmark Conference play begins with a doubleheader at Susquehanna on Saturday, March 22 beginning at 1 p.m.

2014 Landmark Softball Preseason Poll