PORTLAND — Pacific Coast Softball Conference-newcomer BYU has been tabbed to win the 2013 PCSC title, while the CSU Bakersfield softball team was selected to finish sixth according to the PCSC Preseason Coaches poll released Monday.

CSUB finished fifth in the Coastal Division of the PCSC last season, which was the first under new head coach Crissy Buck. The 'Runners went 13-39 overall and 6-14 in conference play. Buck has revamped the roster with eight newcomers, including four junior college or Division I transfers.

BYU, which went 45-15 in 2012 and went 2-2 in the postseason in the NCAA Eugene Regional, received six-of-seven first-place votes and 48 points overall. Loyola Marymount was picked second with 39 points. San Diego edged Saint Mary's for third place by one point, with 32. Utah Valley, another newcomer, was picked to finish fifth, followed by CSU Bakersfield and Santa Clara.

First-place votes were worth seven points, six points was received for being voted second, five for third place and so forth. The Gaels received the other first-place vote. All seven conference head coaches participated in the poll.

The PCSC has a new look this year as it has slimmed down into one division after the Big Sky Conference decided to offer softball in 2013 which lead to Portland State, Northern Colorado, Weber State, Idaho State and Sacrament State departing the PCSC.

The 2013 season will be CSUB's last in the PCSC as the 'Runners will be headed to the West Coast Conference in 2014. Since many of the schools who make up the Pacific Coast Softball Conference are members of the WCC, including St. Mary's, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount and San Diego, they will now be the core members of the WCC softball conference. The five schools will be joined by CSUB, Utah Valley and Pacific to form an eight-team conference.           

The Roadrunners will open up the 2013 season at the Stacey Winsburg Tournament in Los Angeles Feb. 9-10. CSUB will first take on McNeese State at 9 a.m. on Feb. 9. CSUB will open up PCSC play by hosting LMU for doubleheaders on March 23 and 24.

2013 PCSC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

No.         School (1^st Place Votes)            Pts

1.            BYU (6)                                        48

2.            Loyola Marymount                       39

3.            San Diego                                    32

4.            Saint Mary's (1)                            31

5.            Utah Valley                                  18

6.            CSU Bakersfield                          15

7.            Santa Clara                                 13

~www.GoRunners.com~