This week in Pac-12 softball
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• A weekend of upsets and program firsts highlighted the weekend with Arizona State going perfect on the weekend. Oregon State, Utah and Washington each won their respective series’ 2-1 and California swept nonconference opponents Fresno State and Santa Clara. Pac-12 softball teams continue to move up in the rankings with four in the top-10 and seven ranked this week.
• Oregon State’s Alysha Everett earned player of the week honors after totaling seven RBIs over the Beavers’ series against No. 8/9 UCLA including four-RBIs in the run-rule victory in game one of the series. Washington’s Taran Alvelo was named pitcher of the week after starting all three games at in the Huskies’ 2-1 series win over Oregon. Pitched two complete games, including a complete nine-inning 5-3 win for the Huskies and allowed only 12 hits in all three games. Utah’s Kelly Martinez earned freshman of the week honors after batting .500 with a double and two runs batted in in the Utes’ 2-1 series win over Arizona, and her run of the weekend was the walk-off game-winner vs. the No. 1 ranked Wildcats.
• Seven teams continue to be ranked in the USA Today/NFCA and the USA Softball/ESPN.com top-25. At least six Pac-12 teams have been ranked since the start of the season. Arizona remains at the top at No. 3/2, Oregon is at No. 6 in both polls, Washington is at No. 9/10, Utah received one first-place vote and is at No. 10/11, UCLA is at No. 13/14, Arizona State is at No. 23/24, and California is at No. 22. Oregon State and Cal also received votes in the USA Today/NFCA polling.
• Pac-12 teams also continue to be ranked in the NCAA RPI, with four teams in the top-10, and seven in the top-25. Arizona is at No. 3 followed by Washington at No. 4, UCLA and Oregon at No. 6 and 7, Utah at No. 15, Cal at No. 17 and Arizona State at No. 21.
• A top-10 matchup between Oregon and Arizona highlights the week when the Ducks travel to Tucson. Washington meets non-conference foes UAB and No. 12 ranked Alabama, Utah is at Arizona State, California visits UCLA and Stanford is at Oregon State this week.
• Nine Pac-12 softball athletes have been named finalists for the 2017 USA Softball Player of the Year honor. The list includes Oregon's Maggie Balint and Nikki Udria, Utah's Hannah Flippen, Arizona's Katiyana Mauga with teammates Taylor McQuillin, Mo Mercado, Danielle O'Toole and Mandie Perez, and UCLA's Delaney Spaulding.
• UCLA's Delaney Spaulding, Washington's Ali Aguilar and Utah's Hannah Flippen have been named finalists for the 2017 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must be classified as NCAA Division I seniors and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The finalists were chosen by national media from the list of 30 candidates announced earlier this month. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through May 9 and will be announced during the 2017 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, June 1-7.
• For the first time in program history, Oregon State won its series against UCLA. The Beavers already made history in the first game of the series, run-ruling UCLA and a top-10 Pac-12 opponent for the first time in program history. The victory was also the first time the Beavers rule-ruled a top-10 Pac-12 opponent, last done on on April 22, 2008, when it defeated No. 22 California 8-0.
• Arizona State swept Conference opponent Stanford on the weekend. Through the three games, Arizona State out-hit the Cardinal, 34-10, including five home runs. In the circle, the Sun Devils combined for a 1.84 ERA, giving up just five runs and tallied 10 strikeouts in the three-game set.
• For the first time in program history, Utah Softball topped the No. 1 team in the nation when the Utes went 2-1 against Arizona, including a 3-2 walk-off win Saturday.
• For the first time since 2011, Washington took the series win over Oregon. Pitcher of the week Taran Alvelo pitched all three games including striking out 12 batters and allowing only five hits in the final game of the series.
• California swept in-state non-conference rival Fresno State. It was the first time the Cal swept Fresno in a multi-game series since 2005 when the Bears posted 3-1 and 5-0 wins.
• CHASING HISTORY: Arizona’s Katiyana Mauga is on the verge of breaking the NCAA career home run record. She currently leaves the Conference in home runs this season with 16.
NCAA Softball Career Homeruns
1. Lauren Chamberlain, Oklahoma 2012-15 95
2. Stacey Nuveman, UCLA 1997, 99, 2001-02 90
3. Stacie Chambers, Arizona 2008-11 87
4. Leah Braatz, Arizona 1994-95, 97-98 85
5. Laura Espinoza, Arizona 1992-95 85
6. Shelby Pendley, Oklahoma 2012-15 84
t7. Danyele Gomez, Louisiana 2003-06 83
t7. Katiyana Mauga, Arizona 83