RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- With over 17,000 votes in the two-day poll California Baptist University's Emma Holden fell to Nikki Cheong in the finals of The Press-Enterprise Performer of the Year poll.

The graduated senior looked to defend the title which she won last year, but her 6,535 votes were not enough.

Holden compiled a 26-4 record this season, leading California Baptist University to an NCCAA National Championship and Pacific West Conference Title. The senior pitcher had a 1.57 ERA, 302 strikeouts this season and earned both NCCAA National Pitcher of the Year and PacWest Pitcher of the Year honors.

Holden received 1,971 votes in the two-day semifinals, edging out La Sierra's Natalia Hawthorne by over 500 votes to move on to the finals. She edged out Emily Canales of Redlands in the quarterfinals, getting 1,384 votes in the one day quarterfinal poll. Canales got 1,155 votes in a four athlete poll that featured over 2,800 votes.

Voting has been up in each round this year, with Holden's 3,355 votes already dwarfing the 1,454 votes it took her to win the poll last year.