- Posted in All University
- Category: AthleticsCampus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA – Despite recording just three conference wins over the past six full seasons, the Lincoln University softball team has garnered respect from Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association coaches before most of them play a single collegiate inning.
In a vote of CIAA head coaches and sports information personnel, the Lions were picked to finish third in the conference's northern division and seventh overall. If those predictions hold, Lincoln would qualify for the second time in the school's CIAA era which began in 2010.
"We are pleasantly pleased to be ranked third in the north and seventh overall," said Lincoln Head Softball Coach Renee Clarke. "These are certainly rankings we will strive to attain."
Elizabeth City State was picked to win the North, followed by Bowie State, Lincoln, Shaw, Virginia State, and Virginia Union. Defending CIAA champion Claflin was picked to win the South, followed by Fayetteville State, Winston-Salem State, Johnson C. Smith, Saint Augustine's, and Livingston.
Lincoln enters the season with only two players that have ever played NCAA Division II softball – Jasmin Lewis (Baltimore, Md./Western) and MacKienzee Rasheed (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills). Lewis hit .333 in the abbreviated 2020 season with the Lions, while Rasheed hit .333 as a freshman at Albany State University last season. Junior college transfer Amaya Townsend (Port Jervis, N.Y./Port Jervis) also brings collegiate experience to the Lions' lineup and in the circle.
The Lions begin the 2022 season with a doubleheader against Emory & Henry 1 p.m. February 19.
