Hempstead, N.Y. - Hofstra junior pitcher/designated player Olivia Galati was named to the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year top-50 watch list, the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) announced on Thursday.

Galati, who went 29-8 with a 1.24 ERA last season, joined a list that included 23 seniors, 20 juniors and seven sophomores. She was the only member of a Colonial Athletic Association school to make the cut.

The Hofstra standout was part of a group that also included 2011 Player of the Year Ashley Hansen, who is entering her senior season for Stanford. Athletes named to the "watch list" represent 31 NCAA Division I universities and 13 athletic conferences. Cal, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas lead the way among universities with three athletes representing each. The Big 12 Conference and the Pacific-12 (Pac-12) Conference have six member schools represented. 

Galati is a two-time CAA Pitcher of the Year award recipient. As a sophomore, she posted the lowest ERA in the league and added three saves in notching the school's single-season strikeout record with 348. In the regular season, she led the nation with 17 shutouts.

Besides her pitching prowess, Galati also led the Pride with a .343 average while recording eight RBIs and 10 runs scored. She tallied a .418 on-base percentage and also fielded her position flawlessly, not making a single error in 60 total chances.

The top-25 Finalists for the Player of the Year award will be announced on April 11. While an athlete does not have to be on the "Watch List" to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the top-25 finalists. The top-10 finalists will be announced May 9 and the final three finalists will be announced May 23. The winner will be announced on May 29 prior to the start of the 2012 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.