IRVINE, Calif. - Three returning Eagles on the Concordia University Irvine softball team were picked as Preseason All-PacWest selections the conference announced on Tuesday.
Senior
Sydney Sprinkle has already earned the respect of the league's coaches and was named the Preseason Player of the Year. Joining the Palm Desert High School alum on the Preseason All-PacWest squad this February are speedy outfielder
Megan Massa and pitcher/power hitter
Erika Morris.
The trio have been mainstays in the lineup since their freshmen seasons and will collectively look to lead the Eagles back to the top of the standings and the postseason.
The Green and Gold recently earned a No. 10 national preseason ranking in the NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll for the third time in four seasons.
CLICK HERE for that story.
The PacWest coaches also predicted that CUI would finish second in the league this season behind Biola.
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| PacWest Preseason Poll |
|
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Biola (7) |
79 |
| 2 |
Concordia (2) |
74 |
| 3 |
Hawai'i Hilo |
53 |
| 4 |
Azusa Pacific |
52 |
| 5 |
Dominican |
41 |
| 6 |
Academy of Art |
39 |
| 7 |
Hawai'i Pacific |
28 |
| 8 |
Chaminade |
27 |
| 9 |
Holy Names |
12 |
The CUI softball program has finished in first place in each of the past three full seasons that have been played. After winning back-to-back PacWest titles in 2018 and 2019, the Eagles also finished in first place in the PacWest SoCal pod last season. CUI also advanced to the NCAA DII West Regional for the third time since the school completed the transition from NAIA to NCAA DII.
Concordia will start its season by hosting an expanded field of 21 total teams at the 2022 Concordia Kickoff Classic. The tournament runs Friday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb 6. will all games those days to be played off-campus at nearby Great Park in Irvine. CUI will face Northwest Nazarene and Cal State San Bernardino in its first two games of the year on Friday.
CLICK HERE to go to the Tournament Central page for the 2022 Concordia Kickoff Classic.
CLICK HERE to Buy Your Tickets Ahead Of Time
**IMPORTANT: We are NOT accepting cash at the gate entrances during the tournament. All fans must purchase tickets online (using their credit card) through our CUI Hometown Ticketing link**
All tournament games are NOT on CUI's campus but at Great Park about 15 minutes from campus. The five CUI games will be hosted in the Stadium just like two years ago.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI softball schedule
