Pacers Tabbed Seventh in Preseason PBC Softball Tally

2011 Peach Belt Conference Preseason Release

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team was picked to finish seventh in the Peach Belt Conference in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches.

For the third straight season, the North Georgia Saints have been selected as the preseason softball favorites.

The Saints were unanimous picks for the top spot, receiving all 10 first-place votes in which they were eligible. Armstrong Atlantic State is second in the poll with Francis Marion in third and Augusta State in fourth. Flagler, UNC Pembroke, USC Aiken, Columbus State, Lander, Georgia College and Georgia Southwestern rounded out the voting.

The Pacer softball program has acquired a great deal of success recently, including having been ranked nationally at some point during the last two seasons. The 2010 Pacers were ranked a softball program preseason-best, 13th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Preseason Top-25 poll and remained ranked well into the season en route to keeping the Pacers' current streak of 20-win seasons alive at seven.

USC Aiken ended its 2010 season with an even record of 23-23 after bowing out of the 2010 PBC Softball Tournament in the PBC Tournament semifinals.

In 2011, USC Aiken's squad will be comprised of experienced veterans, solid transfers and strong freshmen. The Pacers concluded their 2010 fall softball campaign with an impressive 7-1 record that was accentuated by a victory over the University of South Carolina in Columbia

The 2011 USC Aiken spring season will begin on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6 with the Pacers competing in the Aiken Early Bird Tournament.

The PBC season will conclude with the PBC Tournament April 15-17 at the Freedom Florence Complex in Florence, S.C.  Only the top eight teams in the league standings will advance to tournament play.