TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian College softball has been selected to finish first in the 2019 Landmark Conference Preseason Poll voted on by the conference coaches.

The defending conference champion Greyhounds garnered five first place votes and 57 points while The University of Scranton was selected second in the poll with 44 points and the other two first place votes. Susquehanna University came in third in the poll with 36 points while The Catholic University of America was in fourth with 24 points.

Moravian, which was 36-8 last season, is aiming for its 25th straight postseason appearance this spring. The Greyhounds have been in the NCAA Division III Tournament in 17 of the past 20 years with five regional championships and three World Series appearances.

"Being picked at the top of the poll gives us a starting point for the year and shows the respect that our players and program have earned in the Landmark Conference but it is also based a lot on what you did last season," stated 26-year Head Coach John Byrne. "We have an experienced core of returning players but we also have quite a few spots to fill in the lineup and in the circle. We have our work cut out for us this season to reach one of our goals to play in the conference tournament in May.

Moravian, which was ranked No. 23 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Preseason Top 25 Poll, begins the season on Sunday, March 3 with games versus Thiel College and John Carroll (Ohio) University at the PFX Spring Games at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida.

The full Landmark Conference Preseason poll can be viewed at http://landmarkconference.org/sports/sball/2018-19/releases/02212019-sball-preseason-poll.