May 5, 2002

FRESNO, Calif. - Freshman right-hander Jamie Southern has made the Top 10 list for the inaugural USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, as announced by the Amateur Softball Association.

One of 25 players named last month, Southern is one of two freshman and one of six players who made the top 10 cut.

Leading the nation in ERA and second in wins, Southern owns a 31-7 overall record with 20 shutouts, three no-hitters and 361 strikeouts as a rookie. She already has set the school's single-season strikeout record and is looking to become just the third freshman pitcher in NCAA history to tally 400 strikeouts in a season.

Fresno State, which will be making its NCAA record-setting 21st consecutive appearance in the Division I Softball Championship Tournament, will close out its regular-season at San Jose State on May 11, 12:00 p.m.

Below is an alphabetical listing of the 10 finalists:

Jaime Clark, Jr., Shortstop, Washington

Jennie Finch, Sr., Pitcher, Arizona

Keira Goerl, So., Pitcher, UCLA

Nikki Myers, Sr., Pitcher, Florida Atlantic

Stacey Nuveman, Sr., Catcher, UCLA

Cat Osterman, Fr., Pitcher, Texas

Britni Sneed, Sr., Pitcher, LSU

Jamie Southern, Fr., Pitcher, Fresno State

Natasha Watley, Jr., Shortstop, UCLA

Phelan Wright, So., Third Base, Arizona State

The list will be narrowed down to three on May 31 and the Player of the Year will be announced June 7.