Washington Closes Out Regular Season vs. Arizona State

SEATTLE – In a battle of Top-10 teams, the No. 10 Washington Huskies hosts No. 4 Arizona State for the final weekend of the regular season at Husky Softball Stadium.
 
All three games will air on Pac-12 Networks. Thursday is set for a 7 p.m. first pitch on Pac-12 Network. Friday at 5 p.m. on Pac-12 WA and the Saturday series finale is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Pac-12 AZ.
 
Washington enters the game with an overall record of 34-13 with a 13-8 mark in conference play. The Huskies have clinched a top three spot in the conference standings.
 
ALL-CONFERENCE
The Huskies earned nine year-end awards by the Pac-12 this week, highlighted by Baylee Klingler being named Player of the Year.
 
Player of the Year – Baylee Klingler
First Team – Baylee Klingler, Gabbie Plain, Madison Huskey
Second Team – Sami Reynolds
All-Freshman Team – Kinsey Fiedler, Rylee Holtorf, Olivia Johnson
All-Defensive Team – Baylee Klingler
 
LEADERS OF THE PAC
The Huskies hold nine conference-leading stats heading into the weekend. Baylee Klingler leads the Pac-12 in batting average (.453), home runs (22), RBI (65), RBI per game (1.38), slugging percentage (1.007), and total bases (149). Jenn Cummings leads with .33 hit by pitches per game, while Gabbie Plain holds the top spot with nine shutouts. As a team, Washington leads the conference with a .977 fielding percentage.
 
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Washington has compiled a tough schedule thus far with the 18th toughest schedule in the NCAA. In the first 40 games, the Huskies have faced 12 Top 25 opponents and hold a record of 15-8. The final series of the regular season will see the Huskies face current ESPN/USA Softball opponent in No. 4 Arizona State (5/12-14).
 
PLAIN AND SIMPLE
Gabbie Plain continues to rewrite the Husky record books in her fifth and final year. This season, she ranks third with 168 strikeouts in the Pac-12. The senior leads the Pac-12 with nine shutouts and fifth nationally, after recording two at Oregon. Plain was tabbed Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time this season and the second consecutive nod for her. In total Plain has 14 career Pac-12 honors (11 Pitcher of the Week, three Freshman of the Week).
 
TOP 10 FINALIST
Baylee Klingler was named one of 10 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award last week. The list will be narrowed down to the final three finalists on May 18, with the winner announced prior to the WCWS.
 
ALL-TIME VS. ARIZONA STATE
The Huskies are 63-30 all-time vs. Arizona State. In Seattle, UW holds the all-time record 29-16.
 
SCOUTING ARIZONA STATE
The Sun Devils are coming off a series win over then-No. 4 UCLA. On the year, Arizona State holds a record of 37-8 and are 18-3 in Pac-12 play.
 
ASU is led by Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Cydney Sanders. The freshman holds a .425 batting average with 45 runs scored, 52 RBI, 17 home runs and 34 walks. Arizona State's head coach, Trisha Ford, was also named Pac-12 Coach of the Year earlier this week.
 
Lindsay Lopez leads the pitching staff with a 1.56 ERA in 94.1 innings. Lopez holds a record of 11-2 with two saves on the year. Overall, the ASU pitchers have a combined 2.40 ERA and are holding opponents to a .236 batting average.
 
UP NEXT
The Huskies look ahead to the postseason where they will learn where they are headed for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN2.
 
For more information on the UW softball team, follow @UWSoftball on Twitter and Instagram.