Coming off a .500 season, the Long Beach State softball team was picked to finish fourth in the Big West Conference preseason poll by the league’s eight head coaches Tuesday.
The 49ers, who finished 26-26 and 10-11 in conference play last season, finished in fourth last year.
Cal Poly, which received three first-place votes, was picked to win its third Big West championship in the last five seasons. UC Davis also received three votes and finished second in the poll.
Cal State Northridge, led by first-year head coach and former 49ers assistant Tairia Flowers, finished just ahead of The Beach and was picked third.
The University of the Pacific, Cal State Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside — in order — round out the poll. Despite the last-place prediction, UCR received one first-place vote.
The 49ers will open the 2011 season with the LBSU Round Robin on Feb. 12 and 13. The Beach will host Loyola Marymount and Boise State, playing both teams twice in doubleheaders.
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