WCWS Berth At Stake As Washington Opens Super Regional Play At Alabama
May 27, 2016 | Softball
• NCAA Bracket | Press Conference
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For the second consecutive season, the No. 12-ranked University of Washington softball team will travel to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama in the postseason, this time vying for a spot to the Women's College World Series.
- Washington made its 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance (1994-2016) and 12th straight under the leadership of head coach Heather Tarr. The Huskies own an all-time postseason record of 96-44 and is making its 10th NCAA Super Regional appearance. Last season, Washington went 2-2 in the Tuscaloosa Regional, losing to Alabama in the final.
- Washington enters super regional play with an overall record of 39-13 and 16-8 in Pac-12 play. The Huskies beat Weber State, 14-6 (5) in the regional opener before defeating Minnesota 5-2 on Saturday. UW run-ruled the Gophers, 15-7 (6), to advance to super regionals.
- After being swept by Oregon to open Pac-12 play, Washington won the remainder of the Pac-12 series, sweeping Arizona State and Stanford.
- Washington currently sports the eighth toughest schedule in the country according to the latest RPI release. The Huskies are 13-10 against teams ranked in the top-25.
- The Huskies have earned 14 wins against teams currently ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll including No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 10 LSU, No. 14 UCLA (2), No. 18 Arizona (2), No. 19 Minnesota (3), No. 20 Fresno State, No. 23 Notre Dame and No. 25 Utah (2).
- Entering NCAA Super Regional play, Washington ranks in the top-10 nationally in six offensive categories: No. 2 in doubles per game (1.87), No. 4 in slugging (.569), No. 5 scoring (7.62), No. 7 in batting average (.342), No. 8 home runs per game (1.40), No. 8 in on base percentage (.437).
- The Huskies rank second in the Pac-12 in just about every offensive category: batting average, slugging, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, RBI, doubles, home runs, total bases.
- Washington is 26-2 when scoring in the first inning this season and 32-6 when scoring first. The Huskies are 25-0 when leading after the first inning.
- Ali Aguilar was named a Top-25 finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year. She was also recently named to the ASA/USA Softball Elite Team roster. Nationally, she ranks in the top-7 in five different categories, leading the nation in runs per game.
- Aguilar leads the Pac-12 in just about every offensive category: runs scored, RBI, home runs and total bases. She has recorded five or more RBI in four games this season while registering three multi-home run games. The junior had a career-high seven RBI against Central Michigan, one short of tying the single game record at UW.
- Senior Kimberlee Souza is batting a career-best .347. Along with Aguilar, she leads the team with 18 multi-RBI games, while ranking second on the team with 59 RBI and 13 home runs.
- Sophomore Trysten Melhart leads the offense with a .386 batting average. Her 56 hits this season is third-best on the team and she has had five games where she has had three or more base knocks. The outfielder also leads the team with eight stolen bases.
- Sophomore Taylor Van Zee leads the squad with 62 hits including 16 doubles which leads the Pac-12. The second baseman's .385 batting average is second-best on the team.
- Through 52 games, Washington's pitching staff has combined for a 3.21 earned-run average, totaling 275 strikeouts with 197 runs and 345 hits allowed. Freshman RHP Taran Alvelo leads the staff with 151 strikeouts and sophomore RHP Madi Schreyer is second with 80.
- In regional play, the staff combined for a 3.50 ERA and three different pitchers earned wins -- Schreyer, Alvelo and Hailey Bator.
- Alvelo leads the team with 146.0 innings pitched, 14 complete games, 24 starts and 18 wins, including wins against Oklahoma, Minnesota, Notre Dame, UCF, Michigan, UCLA and Arizona State. She struck out a season-high 11 against Oregon State (April 22).
- Alvelo has won four weekly conference honors this season. She has twice been named Pac-12 Pitcher of Week and twice named Freshman of the Week.
