In the third week of Pac-12 play, the seniors were drafted, freshmen were named to the Junior Women’s National Team and ASU continued to roll.
Three Pac-12 players were selected in the National Pro Fastpitch senior draft on Monday: Cal pitcher/first baseman Jolene Henderson by the Chicago Bandits with the third pick, Oregon pitcher Jessica Moore by the New York/New Jersey Comets in the second round and the Akron Racers took UA short stop Brigette Del Ponte with the 17th pick.
The Conference of Champions was well represented on the Junior Women’s National team, with two Ducks, two Bruins, one Stanford player and one Wildcat, freshman third baseman Lauren Young.
The junior Yanks will play in July, and the NPF season starts in June.
No. 2 ASU (34-3, 5-1 Pac-12) continued to dominate, sweeping Oregon State, which was ranked in the coaches’ poll, in Tempe. The Sun Devils have won nine in a row, have hit a home run in every game since March 15 and have hit long balls in 31 of their 37 games this year.
Every Pac-12 team except for ASU played a midweek series earlier this week.
No. 15 Washington (28-10, 6-3) earned its first ever road conference sweep at No. 15 UCLA (25-11, 2-7) and won three straight against the Bruins for the first time since 2004.
Arizona (24-13, 4-5) lost 8-4 to Utah, the Utes’ first win at the new Utah Softball Stadium, and it snapped Utah’s 10-game losing string. The Wildcats lost the first two games of the series with No. 4 California (29-4, 5-1) but rebounded to beat the Bears 7-3.
The win was important for Arizona, as it takes a mini break from Pac-12 play, hosting UC Santa Barbara this weekend and then traveling to New Mexico State next Tuesday.
1. No. 2 ASU (34-3, 5-1) This week: at Stanford
Week two: W 5-4, W 5-1, W 11-0 vs. Oregon State
2. No. 9 Oregon (31-5, 8-1) This week: at Cal
Week two: W 12-1, W 4-2, L 2-1 at Washington, W 11-3 (6 innings), W 11-1 (6 innings), W 5-2 vs. Utah
3. No. 4 California (29-4, 5-1), This week: vs. Oregon
Week two: W 1-0, at Sacramento State, W 6-2, W 5-1, L 7-3 at, at Arizona
4. No. 15 Washington (28-10, 6-3) This week: at Oregon State
Week two: L 12-1, L 4-2, W 2-1 vs. Oregon, W 1-0, W 5-4 (9 innings), W 6-0 at UCLA
5. No. 14 Stanford (26-10, 4-5) This week: vs. ASU
Week two: W 5-1, L 8-5 (8 innings), W 2-0, vs. UCLA, W 7-0, W 8-6, L 4-3 at Oregon State
6. No. 22 Arizona (24-13, 4-5) This week: vs. UC Santa Barbara (two games)
Week two: W 6-4, W 6-5 (11 innings), L 8-4 at Utah, L 6-2, L 5-1, W 7-3 vs. Cal
7. No. 15 UCLA (25-11, 2-7) This week: at Utah
Week two: L 5-1, W 8-5 (8 innings), L 2-0, at Stanford, L 1-0, L 5-4 (9 innings), L 6-0 vs. Washington
8. Oregon State (24-11, 1-5) This week: at Washington
Week two: L 5-4, L 5-1, L 11-0 at ASU, L 7-0, L 8-6, W 4-3, vs. Stanford
9. Utah (14-19-1, 1-8) This week: vs. UCLA
Week two: L 6-4, L 6-5 (11 innings), W 8-4 vs. Arizona, L 11-3 (6 innings), L 11-1 (6 innings), L 5-2 at Oregon