Pac-12 softball leads nation for 11th-straight week

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With only two weeks left in the regular season, a Pac-12 team has topped the NFCA poll for 11-straight weeks. UCLA took the No. 1 spot after sweeping WASHINGTON in its series on Apr. 20-22. The Huskies led the nation from Feb. 17-Apr. 17 previously. The Bruins remain at No. 1 this week for the second-straight week.

UCLA holds strong at No. 1 after defeating then-No. 25/21 Oklahoma State in two games (7-2, 7-0) and South Dakota twice (11-1, 4-1). OREGON is No. 2/2 in the polls after sweeping No. 6/5 Washington in its three game series this week (7-2, 4-2, 5-3).

This week is highlighted by the final home series for OREGON STATE, ARIZONA STATE and OREGON of the regular season. The teams spend the final week of the regular season on the road, before NCAA selections on Sunday, May 13.

Six teams are ranked in the USA Today/NFCA poll for the first time since Apr. 10. CALIFORNIA enters the poll in a tie for No. 24 with Mississippi State. The Golden Bears beat UC Davis, 3-2, and swept rival STANFORD (3-0, 3-0, 8-1).

Joining No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 Oregon and No. 25 CALIFORNIA in the USA Today/NFCA poll is No. 6 Washington, No. 8 Arizona State and No. 10 ARIZONA.

In the USA Softball/ESPN poll, five teams are ranked. UCLA is No.1, Oregon is No. 2, Washington is No. 5, Arizona State is No. 7 and Arizona is No. 11. California and OREGON STATE are receiving votes.

Oregon claims the No. 1 spot in the NCAA RPI once again with UCLA at No. 2 and Washington at No. 5 to round out the teams in the top five. Joining the teams in the top 30 is Arizona State at No. 7, Arizona at No. 12, Oregon State at No. 21 and California at No. 29.

Oregon picked up two of the three weekly awards this week. Senior infielder DJ Sanders is the Pac-12 Player of the Week after playing a key role in the Ducks’ three-game road sweep of then-No. 4 Washington to move Oregon into a first-place tie with UCLA in the Pac-12. Junior right handed pitcher Megan Kleist received her second Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honor after pitching 15.0 innings and getting 19 strikeouts in the sweep of UW. UCLA’s Aaliyah Jordan was honored with her seventh Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honor of the season. The freshman helped the Bruins in wins against then-No. 21 Oklahoma State (7-2 and 7-0) and South Dakota (4-1).

The Pac-12 tops the NCAA statistics in four categories, including three team categories and one individual category. UCLA tops the nation in slugging percentage (.544). Oregon is ranked first in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.46). Pac-12 teams appear in the top-10 in 12 of 14 NCAA categories.

In the individual categories, Oregon’s Megan Kleist is first in strikeout-to-walk ration (11.93). 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