IRVINE, Calif. --- A Tuesday announcement from league offices recognized the postseason award-winners for the 2021 softball season in the PacWest. BU head coach Nikki Udria nabbed the top honor as the PacWest Coach of the Year.

The PacWest put together three teams of 12 athletes, honoring one player from each infield position, three outfielders, two pitchers, one designated player and one utility player per team. Biola earned a total of three first-team distinctions from Kayla Neff, Jennifer Morinishi and Paige Austin and a pair of third-team nods from Ruth Munoz and Raylene Roybal.

In her third year at the helm, Udria led the Eagles to new heights this season. For the first time, BU stepped into the NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll with a No. 24 rating in the nation, while boasting a 19-13 overall mark and a 7-5 record against ranked opponents. The outstanding output has the Eagles ranked second in the region and in prime position to make the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships.

The team was dominant to finish the 2021 regular season, going 15-6 in their final 21 games. Of those six losses, only two were by more than one run as the Eagles pushed every team they faced to the very last out.

For the third time in her career, Neff landed on an All-PacWest postseason team, as a first-team catcher in 2021. The senior had an impeccable season for BU, leading the squad in batting average (.326), on-base plus slugging percentage (.935), home runs (4), RBI (21), slugging percentage (.522), walks (15) and on-base percentage (.413). 

The Huntington Beach, California native offered six multi-hit efforts, a nine-game hitting streak and a seven-game hitting streak this season. In addition to her hitting accolades, Neff also caught 17 runners stealing to lead the conference by a wide margin.

Morinishi picked up an All-PacWest First-Team selection as an outfielder on Tuesday. The lefty compiled 28 hits with a .295 batting average, while starting in all 32 games for BU.

The junior boasted a plus-.400 batting average through the first 17 games of the season, while logging a hit in eight of the team's first nine games of the season. Morinishi also collected eight multi-hit outings, including a pair of three-hit games on her way to her first All-PacWest distinction.

Austin corralled her third All-PacWest nod on Tuesday and was recognized as All-PacWest First-Team for the first time in her career at Biola. The righty hurler was dominant in 2021, leading the PacWest in opposing batting average (.190), innings pitched (106.2), strikeouts (131), wins (10), while also ranking second in earned run average (1.69).

Through 18 starts and 20 appearances, Austin completed three shutouts and 12 complete games. The Los Alamitos, California product also earned two PacWest Pitcher of the Week awards. Austin had a knack for striking out opposing offenses, as she boasted 52 more strikeouts than the second-highest total in the PacWest, while posting six double-digit strikeout performances.

Munoz was selected to the All-PacWest Third-Team for the second time in her career as a shortstop. The senior logged a pair of six-game hitting streaks, including a season high of seven-straight, while notching a hit in 11 of the last 12 games of the season.

The shortstop connected on her first career home run in the final week of the regular season. The long ball was a three-run walkoff hit for BU, helping Munoz collect a PacWest Player of the Week award.

In her first collegiate campaign, Roybal put together a strong season in the circle, earning her an All-PacWest Third-Team distinction. The freshman began her career with a gem, tossing a shutout in her second collegiate appearance.

The righty pitcher finished the season with three shutouts and four complete games and recorded a win or save in nine-of-15 appearances. Roybal blanked eighth-ranked CUI and picked up back-to-back wins against the Eagles to earn a PacWest Pitcher of the Week award on April 5.

The BU team currently awaits the NCAA Division II Regional Championship Selection Show, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 16 at 7:00 pm to find out about their postseason opportunity.