March 28, 2012

LOS ANGELES - Riding a 22-11 record through 33 non-conference games, the LMU softball team now sets its sights on defending its Pacific Coast Softball Conference Coastal Division title and make a run at the overall conference championship as PCSC play begins this week.

The preseason pick to win the Coast Division title and the overall championship, LMU opens the 20-game PCSC schedule on Saturday and Sunday, hosting Santa Clara in a four-game set. First pitch each day is 10 a.m. at Smith Field.

If their non-conference play has been any indication, the Lions will be a force to reckon with through the PSCS season as well. Their 22-11 record, which includes a 14-7 mark away from Smith Field, led to a No. 50 ranking in the first official NCAA RPI, released Tuesday. LMU is by far the highest ranked team in the PCSC as the next team, Utah Valley, comes in at No. 98. The next highest Coastal Division team is Sacramento State at No. 121.

The Lions have also been recognized by midmajorpoll.blogspot.com in the site's latest Mid-Major Softball Poll. Teams eligible for inclusion in the rankings include all independents, as well as teams from the following 25 conferences: America East, Atlantic 10, Atlantic Sun, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Conference USA, Great West, Horizon, Ivy, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Pacific Coast Softball, Patriot, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt, Summit, and WAC. LMU was ranked No. 25 in the most recent poll, released Monday.

Individual standouts have been a huge factor to the Lions' successes this season. After winning eight PCSC Player of the Week and five Pitcher of the Week honors all of last season, LMU has dominated the awards through the first seven weeks of 2012 with seven Player (or Co-Player) of the Week awards and three Pitcher of the Week awards.

Sam Fischer has been having a phenomenal senior season, winning five PCSC Player of the Week awards this season alone, bringing her career total to nine. The Simi Valley, Calif., native currently leads all NCAA Division I players with a .533 batting average. She also ranks No. 2 nationally in slugging percentage (1.189), home runs (15) and on-base percentage (0.644) and No. 3 in home runs per game (0.45).

Following the four-game tilt with the Broncos this weekend, the Lions hit the road for a four-game set at Cal State Bakersfield. They return home for the final time this year on April 14-15, hosting Sacramento State, before closing out PCSC play at San Diego and Saint Mary's.