Pac-12 Softball, Washington lead nation

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The Pac-12 leads the nation with three teams in the top five of the USA Today/NFCA poll with undefeated Washington at No. 1, UCLA No. 3 and Oregon No. 5. Arizona, Arizona State, California, and Utah also appear in the poll at 13, 17, 19 and tied for 24, respectively.

With seven of nine teams competing at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., the Pac-12 looks to improve upon the 40-7 record posted last week. Utah is the only team not competing this weekend and Stanford stays local, but the remaining teams compete against ranked opponent such as, #16/18 Mississippi, #18/16 Oklahoma State, #6/9 Texas A&M and #4/5 Oklahoma.

Three teams remain unranked on the season, nation-leading Washington is 12-0, California is 10-0, and UCLA is 9-0. Oregon, Arizona State and Arizona only have one loss. Seven teams also have winning streak.

The Pac-12 tops the NCAA statistics in 18 categories, including six team and 12 individual categories. No. 1 Washington leads the nation in batting average (.445), home runs per game (2.33), on base percentage (.528), scoring (11.08), slugging percentage (.819), and tied in W-L percentage (1.000). UCLA and California are also tied in W-L Percentage.

Pac-12 Player of the Week Washington’s Taylor Van Zee is first in the nation in two categories: doubles (9) and hits (22). Her teammate Kirstyn Thomas leads the nation in five categories: home runs per game (0.67), home runs (8), RBIs (24), slugging percentage (1.389) and total bases (50). UW’s Taran Alvelo is tied for first in ERA (0.00), and is first in shutouts (4) and strikeouts per seven innings (14.0). Arizona’s Jessie Harper is tied with Alvelo in home runs per game. Stanford’s Teaghan Cowles is first in toughest to strikeout (40.0). Oregon’s Mary Iakopo is first in sacrifice flies (3).

IN THE RANKINGS: Seven teams are ranked in the USA Today/NFCA poll with Washington at No. 1, UCLA No. 3, Oregon No. 5, Arizona No. 13, Arizona State No. 17, California No. 19 and Utah tied for No. 24. Oregon State is receiving votes.

Six teams are ranked in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll: Oregon is No. 2, Washington is No. 3 and UCLA is No. 4. Arizona is No. 11, Arizona State is No. 15 and California is No. 19.

PRESEASON COACHES POLL: Oregon was voted first in the Pac-12 softball preseason coaches poll. The Ducks garnered 63 points and seven first place votes to top the polling. UCLA was second with 55 points and two first place votes, while Washington was voted third with 51 points.

RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS: Three NFCA DI All-America team members are returning for the 2018 season, including the NFCA Freshman of the Year UCLA’s P Rachel Garcia. Arizona’s INF Jessie Harper returns as a sophomore after being selected first team last year. Along with Harper, Oregon’s P Megan Kleist and UCLA’s P Garcia return from the second team.

RANKED NEWCOMERS: All nine teams appear in the top 34 of FloSoftball’s top 2018 recruiting classes. UCLA leads the league at No. 2 with five incoming freshman, followed by Oregon at No. 10, Washington at No. 14, Oregon State at No. 21 and Arizona State at No. 23. California is No. 26, Arizona is No. 32, and Stanford is No. 34.

WATCH LISTS: 13 Pac-12 student-athletes appear on the USA Softball Top 50 Collegiate Player of the Year watch list. Arizona’s OF Aleah Craighton, INF Jessie Harper, P Taylor McQuillin, and C Dejah Mulipola, Oregon’s P Maggie Balint, P Megan Kleist, OF Alexis Mack, and INF DJ Sanders, UCLA’s P Rachel Garcia and INF Kylee Perez, Utah’s OF Alyssa Barrera, Washington’s P Taran Alvelo and INF Taylor Van Zee.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

(1) - Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, Palm Springs, Calif.

CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded Standings)

PAC-12 SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK