Pacific Coast Softball Conference

Junior Jennifer Nayudu became the ninth LMU student-athlete in the school's history to be awarded ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® status when she earned a place on the second team for softball, the organization announced Wednesday. Nayudu was honored at the designated player position after being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team earlier this month.

Portland State freshman right-hander Anna Bertrand and Idaho State freshman shortstop Taylor Marchione each shared or won two top individual awards as the Pacific Coast Softball Conference announced the 2010 All-Mountain Division Team Tuesday. Bertrand and Marchione shared the Mountain Division Freshman of the Year Award. Bertrand was also an unanimous choice for Mountain Division Pitcher of the Year, while Marchione shared Player of the Year honors with Portland State senior catcher Brandi Scoggins.

Saint Mary’s head coach Jessica Hanaseth, sophomore right-hander Britany Linton and senior catcher Jenna Smith earned top individual honors for the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Coastal Division, after leading the Gaels to their first-ever PCSC title, the conference office announced Monday. Hanseth earned Coastal Division Coach of the Year, Linton was an unanimous selection for Pitcher of the Year and Smith earned Co-Player of the Year.

Pacific Coast Softball Conference champion Saint Mary’s (30-21) will face No. 5 national-seed UCLA (40-11) in the first round of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional, scheduled for May 21-23. Game time will be announced later.

Saint Mary’s took advantage of Portland State miscues to sweep a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Cottrell Field, and claim the 2010 Pacific Coast Softball Conference Championship Series, two games to one. The Vikings (30-27) entered the day needing one victory to claim their second straight PCSC title, after winning game one 1-0 on Friday.

Junior right fielder Brandi Campos’ two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh inning broke a scoreless tie and lifted Portland State to a 1-0 win over Saint Mary’s Friday afternoon, in game one of the best-of-three 2010 Pacific Coast Softball Conference Championship Series.

Portland State and Saint Mary’s will square-off in the inaugural Pacific Coast Softball Conference Championship Series, with the winner receiving an automatic NCAA berth. The Vikings (29-25, 18-2 PCSC) captured the Mountain Division by five games over second-place Utah Valley, while the Gaels (14-4, 28-20) secured the Coastal Division title on the final day of the PCSC regular-season. The best-of-three series begins today at 2:00 p.m. Game two will be tomorrow at 12:00 p.m., with the third-and-deciding game, if necessary, to follow.

Portland State freshman right-hander Anna Bertrand captured her fourth Mountain Division Pitcher of the Week award, as she helped the Vikings to a four-game sweep of Seattle to finish with an 18-2 PCSC record and a division title. Vikings sophomore catcher/designated player Lacey Holm captured the Mountain Division Player of the Week. In the Coastal Division, Sacramento State freshman infielder Emily McCormick batted .750 with two home runs and 10 RBI to earn Player of the Week honors, while San Diego sophomore right-hander Kaitlin Healy was named Pitcher of the Week.