TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian College softball has been picked to finish first in the 2018 Landmark Conference Preseason Poll voted on by the conference coaches.

The Greyhounds received six first place votes and 60 points while Susquehanna University, the defending Landmark Champion, was selected second in the poll with 43 points and the final first place tally. The Catholic University of America came in third in the poll with 36 points while Juniata College was in fourth with 21 points.

Moravian, which was 36-6 last season, is aiming for its 24th consecutive postseason appearance this spring. The Greyhounds have been in the NCAA Division III Tournament in 16 of the past 19 years with four regional championships and three World Series appearances.

"Being picked at the top of the poll shows our players the respect that they have earned from the other coaches in the Landmark Conference but we look at it as just a starting point for our season," commented Head Coach John Byrne. "We have a very experienced core group of returning players as well as a good mix of freshmen joining our program that we expect to come together as one total unit. They understand that we need to play well in each conference doubleheader so we can be one of the teams in the conference tournament in May."

Moravian, which was ranked No. 18 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Preseason Top 25 Poll, begins the season on Friday, March 2 with games against Whitworth (Wash.) University and No. 1 and defending National Champion Virginia Wesleyan University at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Tucson, Arizona.

The full Landmark Conference Preseason poll can be viewed at http://www.landmarkconference.org/sports/sball/2017-18/releases/02222018sballpreseason.