The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) announced today that Pacific junior pitcher/utility Nikki Armagost has been selected to the Top 50 "Watch List" for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.

The Big West Softball Preseason Coaches Poll proved that the race for the 2012 championship is bound to be a tight one as Pacific and Long Beach State tied for the top spot.  Both schools received four first-place votes for a total of 59 points each.

After winning the first Big West championship in its program history, Pacific added to its 2011 season with three of the league’s major awards. Nikki Armagost was named Offensive Player of the Year, Kelsey Rodriguez earned Freshman Field Player of the Year and Brian Kolze nabbed the Coach of the Year honor.

Pacific's first championship, coaching milestones and personal achievements highlighted an impressive bounceback season for Big West softball.

Long Beach State dropped a pair of games at the Tempe Regional in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. The 49ers fell 8-0 in the first game of the day to No. 1 Arizona State and then dropped a 6-4 nine-inning game to San Diego State in the final game of the night.