Gwynedd Valley, Pa. - (2/13/2024) - As the days grow longer and longer, the calendar creeps closer and closer to the start of the Gwynedd Mercy University softball season. With the Griffins' annual spring trip to Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic scheduled for March 10 through 15, Head Coach Dave Hoch is pleased to announce the Griffins' slate of competition for 2024. "This is one of the hardest working and self-motivated teams I've seen. Our upper classmen are really leading the way with their maturity and their work ethic." Coach Hoch continued, "All of our players take their cue from the upper classman, who have created a very intense, but fun environment to improve their skills. This year's schedule will challenge us, but I expect great things this spring!"
 
Gwynedd Mercy University opened the 2023 season with their best start in program history thanks to six straight wins at the Fastpitch Dreams Classic. A 17-18 overall record and a 4-8 league mark led to the #6 seed in the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Softball Championship Tournament. A 12-3 five-inning victory over #4 Neumann University advanced the Griffins to the second day of Championship Pod Play, but a lack of offense against the eventual league champion, #1 Cabrini University ended Gwynedd Mercy University's first double-digit win season under Head Coach Dave Hoch.
 
The Griffins open their 2024 campaign in mid-March with their annual spring trip to the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. This year's competition includes neutral site contests versus The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) (Mar. 10, 3:00 p.m.), the University of Minnesota Morris (Mar. 11, 3:00 p.m.), Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham (Mar. 11, 5:00 p.m.), Fairmount State University (Mar. 12, 1:00 p.m.), Brevard College (Mar. 12, 5:00 p.m.), Muhlenberg College (Mar. 13, 11:00 a.m.), University of Massachusetts – Boston (Mar. 13, 1:00 p.m.), Notre Dame of Maryland University (Mar. 14, 1:00 p.m.), Mount Aloysius College (Mar. 14, 3:00 p.m.), and the Mississippi University for Women (Mar. 15, 9:00 a.m.).
 
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Upon returning home, Gwynedd Mercy University will officially open the newly constructed  Frank O. Genuardi Legends Softball Field with a March-20 doubleheader versus Cairn University (3:00 p.m. (DH)). The Griffins have won their last 10 meetings with the Highlanders, including wins of 12-3 (5 inns.) and 10-8 in 2022.
 
Afterwards, the Griffins continue a home-heavy schedule with doubleheaders versus Penn State Berks (Mar. 21, 3:00 p.m.) and AEC rival Cabrini University (Mar. 23 12:00 p.m. (DH)). The Red and Gold last played these Nittany Lions in 2008, winning game one of the twin bill by an 8-0 final. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers were the Griffins' top adversary in 2023 with a sweep of both the regular-season (L, 0-6/L, 4-5 (9) on Apr. 22) and postseason (L, 1-8/L, 0-8 (6) meetings.
 
Gwynedd Mercy University rounds out March with a trip to Rutgers-Camden (Mar. 26, 4:00 p.m. (DH)) and a home date versus AEC foe Marymount University (Mar. 28, 12:00 p.m. (DH)). The Griffins enjoyed a pair of one-run wins - 3-2 (8) and 6-5 – over the Scarlet Raptors in 2023 (Mar. 20), but struggled against the Saints in their late-April meeting with losses of 15-0 (5) and 4-3.
 
April kicks off with a doubleheader matchup against Eastern University (Apr. 3, 3:00 p.m. (DH)) and the first away conference matchup as the Griffins travel to Marywood University for a noon (12:00 p.m.) doubleheader with the Pacers. Gwynedd Mercy University and Eastern University cancelled their 2023 doubleheader, leaving a 2008 split (L, 0-2/W, 6-0 on Apr. 18) as the teams' last matchup. Marywood University was the challenger for the Red and Gold's 2023 Senior Day; a split that saw the Griffins win the opener by a 6-0 conclusion.
 
Penn State Schuylkill serves as the next opponent as Gwynedd Mercy University hosts the Nittany Lions for a twin bill on April 9 (3:00 p.m. (DH)). This will mark the first-ever meeting in program history with these Nittany Lions. Two days later (Apr. 11), the Griffins will host Rosemont College in a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader; the 2023 meeting was a split with the Red and Gold wining game two by a narrow 7-6 margin.    
 
A return to AEC play sends Gwynedd Mercy University to Centenary University (N.J.) for a conference showdown on April 13 (12:00 p.m. (DH)). The Cyclones swept the 2023 doubleheader with wins of 6-2 and 8-5. Afterwards, the penultimate homestand includes twin bills with Penn State Abington (Apr. 16, 3:00 p.m. (DH)) and Stockton University (Apr. 18, 3:00 p.m. (DH)). The Griffins defeated these Nittany Lions on their 2019 (W, 4-2 on Mar. 4) spring trip to Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic, but face the Ospreys for the first time in program history.
 
The final road games of 2024 will take place at Neumann University (Apr. 20, 12:00 p.m. (DH)). Leaving the regular season a home conclusion with twin bills versus Albright College (Apr. 24, 3:00 p.m. (DH)) and Immaculata University (Apr. 27, 12:00 p.m. (DH)). The Red and Gold split their 2023 doubleheader with the Knights (L, 2-3/W, 8-6 on Mar. 31) and enjoyed a 12-3 (5) postseason victory over the fourth-seeded Knights. Gwynedd Mercy University will host Albright College looking for revenge on 11-3 final from 2004 (Apr. 15). Immaculata University be after same thing on April 27, when they come to campus for a noon (12:00 p.m.) doubleheader.
 
The 2024 AEC Softball Championship Tournament is scheduled to begin on Friday, May 3, with possible semifinal and championship dates respectively marked for Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11.