In another surprising week in Pac-12 softball, Arizona was pounded and Utah stunned No. 3 Arizona State.
After losing two of three, by 10 and eight runs, to rival UCLA, No. 25 Arizona (28-19, 5-10 Pac-12), is facing the prospect of going down in infamy. At 5-10, unless the Wildcats go at least 7-2 in their final three series, this squad will become the first UA team to post a losing record in Pac-12 play.
Last year Arizona went 12-12, tying for fourth place, but made it to the Super Regionals. All time, the Wildcats are 424-150-1 in Pac-12 play, since the conference started softball competition in 1987 as the Pac-10. From 1992 to 2007, Arizona finished first or second in the Pac-10.
UA’s last conference championship was in 2007, the last time they won the national championship.
Arizona wraps up the regular season with a trip to Oregon State (27-17, 4-11), hosting ASU (39-7, 10-5) and then traveling to No. 15 Stanford (29-14, 6-9).
In the shocker of the week, Utah (20-24-1, 6-12) won just its second Pac-12 series ever, upsetting The Sun Devils. The Utes won the first two games, 5-4, in eight innings and 6-5 and almost swept ASU, which started league play 8-1 and has been ranked as high as No. 2.
“This team has elevated our program after winning series against UCLA and Arizona State,” Utah head coach Amy Hogue said in a press release. “They have proven that this is not a fluke and we’re not a team to look past.”
The bad news for the conference last week was Cal senior pitcher Jolene Henderson, 2012 Pac-12 pitcher of the year, injuring her leg in the Bears’ 1-0 loss to Oregon State. Henderson had to be carried off the field and an extended absence would be a major blow to the Conference of Champions.
“She’s down with the medical staff right now,” said Cal head coach Diane Ninemire to the Daily Californian. “I have nothing to report because I don’t know.”
1. No. 5 Oregon (38-6, 13-2) LW: 1
This week: at UCLA
Week five: W 5-0, W 8-0 (5 innings)
2. No. 3 ASU (39-7, 10-5) LW: 2
This week: vs. Cal
Week five: L 5-4 (8 innings), L 6-5, W 6-4 at Utah
3. No. 14 Washington (34-13, 12-6) LW: 3
This week: bye
Week five: W 6-5, L 6-4, W 7-1, vs. Stanford
4. No. 19 UCLA (30-15, 7-11) LW: 5
This week: vs. UC Santa Barbara (1 game), vs. Oregon
Week five: W 8-6 (10 innings), L 13-3, L 9-1 (6 innings), vs. Arizona
5. No. 10 California (35-9, 9-6) LW: 4
This week: at ASU
Week five: W 8-0 (5 innings), W 3-1, L 1-0, vs. Oregon State
6. No. 15 Stanford (29-14, 6-9) LW: 6
This week: at Pacific (1 game), vs. Utah
Week five: L 6-5, W 6-4, L 7-1, at Washington
7. Utah (20-24-1, 6-12) LW: 9
This week: at Southern Utah (2 games), at Stanford
Week five: W 5-4 (8 innings), W 6-5, L 6-4 vs. ASU
8. No. 25 Arizona (28-19, 5-10) LW: 7
This week: at Oregon State
Week five: W 8-6 (10 innings), L 13-3, L 9-1 (6 innings), vs. UCLA
9. Oregon State (27-17, 4-11) LW: 8
This week: vs. Arizona
Week five: L 8-0 (5 innings), L 3-1, W 1-0, at Cal
