Five Pac-12 Softball teams set for NCAA Super Regionals

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Five teams are set to compete in the NCAA Division I Super Regionals beginning on Thursday, May 24. The super regionals take place on eight campus sites. At each site, two teams play in a best-of-three tournament format. The winners from each site advance to the NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

No. 1-seed OREGON, No. 3-seed UCLA and No. 14-seed ARIZONA kick off Super Regionals on Thursday. The Ducks host No. 16-seed Kentucky and the Bruins host the Wildcats. On Saturday, No. 5-seed WASHINGTON hosts No. 12-seed Alabama and No. 8-seed ARIZONA STATE hosts No. 9-seed South Carolina. The rest of the best-of-three tournament format games take place through Sunday, May 27.

The advancing teams move on to the 2018 NCAA Women’s College World Series that will be held at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium - OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma City, Okla., May 31- June 5/6. The eight teams will compete in a double elimination bracket with the final two teams then competing in a best-of-three format.

No. 1-seed Oregon, No. 5-seed Washington, No. 8-seed Arizona State and No. 14-seed Arizona all won the regionals they hosted in three games. No. 3-seed UCLA won its first game against Sacramento State, but lost its second game to CSU Fullerton sending it to the elimination bracket. The Bruins then beat Texas State and proceeded to best CSU Fullerton in two more games to become the Los Angeles regional champion.

OREGON STATE played four games last week, losing its first game to Wisconsin, but defeated Middle Tennessee and Wisconsin in the elimination bracket to face No. 12-seed Alabama for the Regional championship. The Crimson Tide defeated the Beavers, 6-0, ending their postseason run.

CALIFORNIA also lost its first game to Northwestern, sending it to the elimination bracket, where it defeated Harvard, but was bested by Northwestern again to end its postseason journey.

A Pac-12 team topped the NFCA poll for 13-straight weeks (Washington Feb. 17-Apr. 17, UCLA Apr. 24-May 9, Oregon May 16). Oregon is No. 1 after clinching the Pac-12 title and picking up a No. 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

UCLA comes in at No. 2 in the poll. Joining Oregon and UCLA in the top 10 is No. 5 Washington, No. 6 Arizona State and No. 10 Arizona. The five Pac-12 teams in the top 10 is the most of any conference. California received votes. In the USA Softball/ESPN poll, five teams are ranked. Oregon is No.1, UCLA is No. 3, Washington is No. 5, Arizona State is No. 7 and Arizona is No. 9. California and Oregon State are received votes.

The 2018 Pac-12 postseason awards were announced as voted on by the league’s coaches. UCLA’s Rachel Garcia was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year. OREGON junior Megan Kleist was voted Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year. WASHINGTON’s Sis Bates garnered Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. UCLA’s Aaliyah Jordan was tabbed Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and also was the Pac-12 Batting Champion. Arizona State head coach Trisha Ford was voted Pac-12 Coach of the Year.

In the final week of the regular season, Oregon claimed the Pac-12 title after sweeping then-No. 24 California in its three-game series. UO picks up its fourth title in six years. The Ducks and UCLA went into the final week of the regular season tied at the top of the Pac-12 standings. UCLA went 2-1 against then-No. 6 Arizona State, earning second in the Pac-12.

UPCOMING NCAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded Standings)

PAC-12 SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK