UCLA takes over lead of nation, Pac-12 softball

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A Pac-12 team has been No. 1 in the USA Today/NFCA poll for ten-consecutive weeks. After a thrilling series sweep by UCLA over WASHINGTON, the Bruins take the No. 1 spot from the Huskies. Now No. 3, UW was No. 1 for nine-consecutive weeks.

All five Pac-12 teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA poll are in the top 10, more than any other conference. Joining No. 1 UCLA and No. 3 Washington is No. 2 OREGON, No. 9 ARIZONA STATE and No. 10 ARIZONA. The USA Softball/ESPN poll has the same rankings this week as the USA Today/NFCA poll with Arizona being the only difference at No. 11. CALIFORNIA and OREGON STATE are receiving votes in both polls.

Last week was filled with top-25 thrillers. Then-No. 4/4 UCLA swept the series against then-No. 1/1 Washington (3-0, 3-2, 1-0). Then-No. 3/3 Oregon also upset then-No. 2/2 Oklahoma (5-0). Then-No. 13/14 Arizona took two of three games against then-No. 8/6 Arizona State (1-2, 4-1, 4-2). All three winning teams moved up in the rankings as a result.

This week is another filled with top matchups. No. 1/1 UCLA hosts South Dakota and No. 25/21 Oklahoma State for two games each. No. 2/2 Oregon travels to No. 4/4 Washington for a three game series with two of the games on ESPN2.

UCLA’s Rachel Garcia dominated the weekly awards again. The sophomore was selected Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week and was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA DI National Player of the Week. Following Garcia’s double honors last week, her teammate Aaliyah Jordan picked up both Pac-12 Player of the Week and Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, completing the first sweep of the weekly awards of the season and first since May 8, 2017 when Oregon swept the awards.

Oregon claims the No. 1 spot in the NCAA RPI with UCLA at No. 2 and Washington at No. 3 to round out the teams in the top five. Joining the teams in the top 30 is Arizona State at No. 8, Arizona at No. 10, Oregon State at No. 2 and California at No. 30.

The Pac-12 tops the NCAA statistics in six categories, including four team categories and two individual categories. Washington leads the nation in ERA (0.97). UCLA tops the nation in slugging percentage (.548). Oregon is ranked first in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.84). Pac-12 teams appear in the top-10 in 12 of 14 NCAA categories.

In the individual categories, Arizona State’s Giselle “G” Juarez is first in shutouts (10). Oregon’s Megan Kleist is first in strikeout-to-walk ration (13.33). Pac-12 student-athletes appear in the top-10 in 18 categories in the individual statistics.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded Standings)

PAC-12 SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK