IRVINE, Calif, --- The PacWest Southern California Pod gave final approval for the 2021 Biola Softball schedule that features 24 conference games starting on March 6. Biola Softball has already played host to Vanguard University on Feb. 2, tallying two exhibition wins to open their young season.

Head Coach Nikki Udria and BU Softball will continue non-conference play as they host a double-header against Hope International University on Mar. 5.

"I am super excited to get back on the field with the team. We have had a great time preparing and it was awesome to get started against Vanguard but we are hungry for more," said Coach Udria. "Our Team has been working hard during practice and pushing ourselves to be better in all areas on and off the field. I am excited for all the depth we have for the team."  

The PacWest Southern California Pod includes two teams ranked in the top 25 as voted on by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Coaches Committee, Azusa Pacific, No. 33 Biola, No. 11 Concordia Irvine and Point Loma. All four schools qualified for the PacWest Championships in 2020. 

BU was in position to be the 2020 PacWest Champs prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. Biola Softball will open up the season and conference play at home with a two-game series against Azusa Pacific on Mar. 6.

The Eagles will follow up their home contest with a road trip as they head to Concordia Irvine. The Battle of the Eagles will be one to follow, Concordia Irvine wrapped up the 2020 season two wins behind Biola before COVID-19 prematurely ended the season. 

PacWest double header play will feature two seven-inning games. The mercy rule remains intact and the game will be called if a team is ahead by eight-runs following five complete innings of play. 

Players to Watch
Pitcher: Paige Austin
Austin, a right-handed pitcher, was off to a great start in 2020. She earned PacWest Pitcher of the Week honors twice during the shortened season and appeared in 17 of BU's 23 total contests. Austin finished the season 12-1 overall with a 1.53 ERA in a team-high 88.1 innings pitched. In her junior campaign, Austin led the PacWest in innings (88.1), strikeouts (91), wins (12) and saves (3).

Position Player: Kayla Neff
In her junior campaign, Neff earned PacWest Preseason Player of the Year honors. She appeared in all 23 games for BU, starting 22 of them behind the plate. Neff was second on the team with a .348 batting average and top-10 in the PacWest in hits (23), hit-by-pitches (4), fielding percentage (1.000), putouts (122) and runners caught stealing (7). In the shortened 2020 season, Neff was third on the BU squad with five multi-hit games.

Outside of players to watch, Coach Udria suggests to keep an eye on the incoming freshman class. "Our freshman class brings something very special and I am excited to see the impact they make immediately out of the gate. We are very blessed to have another year with some special seniors and I am excited to see each and everyone of my girls compete and enjoy being back on the field."

No spectators will be allowed in-person during this 2021 season, however, all Biola home games will be live streamed for free at https://www.youtube.com/user/BiolaAthletics. All dates/times are subject to change.

The NCAA DII Softball Championships will be hosted May 27-31 at the Regency Athletic Complex at MSU in Denver, Colorado.