IRVINE, Calif. --- On Friday afternoon the PacWest Conference announced some fantastic news for its diamond sports. The PacWest Executive Board has approved a plan for the conference to add championship tournaments in softball and baseball starting with the 2023 season.

Currently the conference regular season champion takes home the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA West Regional. Beginning in 2023, the PacWest's automatic qualifier into the NCAA West Regional for the sports of baseball and softball will be awarded to the winner of the conference tournament at the end of the regular season.

This is the first time the PacWest has hosted conference tournaments in these two spring sports.

"We are thrilled to add a championship experience to our student-athletes in baseball and softball," PacWest Commissioner Bob Hogue said. "The PacWest has enjoyed a lot of success on both the regional and national stage in these sports, and adding a postseason tournament will continue to raise the competitive level of our conference."

The PacWest Championships will feature the top-4 teams in the PacWest standings at the end of the regular season. These four teams will compete in a double-elimination tournament. The location of each tournament will be predetermined before the season begins and will rotate among the conference member schools with adequate facilities.

For more information, visit thepacwest.com.