University of Washington
Penn State
Huskies Open At Home This Weekend
March 08, 2017 | Softball
THIS WEEK: WASHINGTON VS PENN STATE/HUSKY CLASSIC
The eighth-ranked Huskies (15-3) return to Seattle to play in their home city for the first time in 2017 in a two-game series against Penn State. The pair will open their series playing at Seattle University on Wednesday, March 8 at 5 p.m. Their second game will mark the team's season home opener. The two teams are set to play at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 9 at Husky Softball Stadium. Washington is coming off a 4-1 showing at the Judi Garman Classic. The team's success at the tournament helped them hold onto their No. 8 spot in the NFCA Top 25 for the third week in a row. Β
LAST TIME OUT
The No. 7 University of Washington softball program just came off a 4-1 run at the Judi Garman Classic. The Huskies (15-3) had two run-rule wins over Iowa and Indiana, as well as wins over Fresno State and Northwestern. Kirstyn Thomas, Morganne Flores, Rachel Ogasawara, Amirah Milloy, Kaija Gibson and Taylor Van Zee each went yard for the team last weekend weekend.
HUSKIES AT A GLANCE
>> Β Β Β Β Β Coach Tarr is currently three wins away from reaching her 500th win as a head coach. She will reach this milestone in just 13 seasons.Β
>>Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β No. 8/8 Washington Huskies just came off a 4-1 run at the Judi Garman Classic. The team run-ruled two Iowa and Indiana and beat Northwestern 3-0 in eight innings. The team's only loss was to Baylor. Β
>>Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Sophomore ace Taran Alvelo was only one hit short of a no-hitter last weekend against Fresno State. Her nine game win streak came to a halt after the Huskies dropped their game to Baylor. Her record is now 9-1.
>> Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Freshman Maggie Gallagher had her first defensive starts in the Purple and Gold. In the Classic's first day she went 5-for-5 after hitting a double, two runs and three RBI (vs. Iowa and Indiana).
>>Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Freshman pitcher Samantha Manti earned her second win of her young collegiate career after giving up just two hits to Indiana. Β
>>Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Freshman Sis Bates currently leads the team in hits (26) and triples (3). The freshman stud currently holds a .481 batting average and a .492 on base percentage.
>> Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β The team returns 15 student-athletes and five freshman in the 2017. The freshmen include: Sis Bates, Maggie Gallagher, Kaija Gibson, Samantha Manti and Alyssa Simons.
>> Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Key returners for the Huskies include: Ali Aguilar, Casey Stangel, Taylor Van Zee, Trysten Melhart, Kelly Burdick, Madi Schreyer, Julia DePonte, Taran Alvelo and Morganne Flores.
>> Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β The Huskies are coming off a run in the post-season in 2016 where the team ended the season at Super Regionals against Alabama. Last season marked the program's 13th Super Regional appearance and 24th appearance in the post season overall.
>> Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Washington is led-off at the plate by All-American Ali Aguilar, who returns for her final season. Aguilar is currently ranked seventh in program history for most runs scored with 177, eighth for RBI's with 168 and sixth for doubles with 46. Last season, Aguilar recorded 21 home runs, the fourth most for one season in program history.
>>Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Juniors Julia DePonte and Taylor Van Zee also return to the lineup as power hitters for the Dawgs. Last season Van Zee totaled 16 doubles and DePonte recorded four triples.
WASHINGTON AT THE HUSKY CLASSIC
The Huskies are just one loss shy of a perfect record in the Husky Classic. With a 39-1 all-time series record, the team has only given up one non-conference regular season loss to Portland State in 2008.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR
In 2016 the team was 19-3 their fourth week into the season. The team had wins over Top-25 teams such as Oklahoma (9), South Dakota (20), central Florida (15), Michigan (2) and Fresno State (22).
COACH TARR TO THE USA WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM
USA Softball announced Monday the complete coaching staff for the USA Softball Women's National Team and Washington head coach, Heather Tarr's name was on that list. Tarr and four other current NCAA collegiate coaches were selected from the USA Softball WNT Coaching Pool and will lead the members of the 2017 Women's National Team as they compete around the country this summer.
GET THE DUB
The Huskies currently boast a 1,012-411-2 all-time record with a 307-241 conference record. The team has appeared in 24 NCAA Tournaments in its 25 years, including 13 Super Regionals and one National Championship.
LAST TIME FACING A TOP-TEN TEAM
While at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, the Huskies went on a 3-1. Washington beat No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Auburn and Nebraska but fell to Brigham Young University. The team beat Auburn in ten innings, 6-5 and shutout the reigning national champions, Oklahoma, 1-0. Sophomore ace, Taran Alvelo, pitched both games.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Against Penn State: The Huskies currently lead the series against Penn State 4-1. Their last meeting was on March 16, 2013 where washing won 13-2 in five innings. The Nittany Lions 8-10 overall and have a .270 team batting average.
Against Minnesota: Washington leads the series over Minnesota 4-1-1. The team last met just last year at the Sporto Kick-Off Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. The Huskies finished on top with a 7-2 win over the Gophers. Minnesota is ranked No. 7 in this week's after going undefeated in the season's first four weeks for an 18-0 record.
Against Seattle U: The Huskies have won every game against their local rival Seattle U, boasting an all-time record of 12-0. The teams last met in 2015 at the Husky Classic that ended in a 17-1 win in five innings for the Huskies. Seattle U has a 5-14 record.
Against South Dakota: This weekend will mark Washington's second meeting with against South Dakota. Last season the two dueled at the Sporto Kick-Off Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. Washington won 14-3 in six innings. South Dakota has a 7-10 overall record with a .323 batting average.
PLAYER AWARDS
Pre-Season
Ali Aguilar- USA Softball Top Watchlist
Week 1
Taran Alvelo- NFCA Pitcher of the Week
Taran Alvelo- ESPNW Player of the Week
Taran Alvelo- Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week
Week 4
Ali Aguilar- Senior CLASS Top 30 Candidate
SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM
Washington softball boasted their highest cumulative GPA last quarter with a 3.34 team cumulative GPA. Eight of the team's 20 student-athletes earned a spot on the Dean's List after earning a 3.5 quarter GPA or higher. Junior Trysten Melhart received a 4.0.
IN THE COMMUNITY
During the team's off days members of the Washington Husky Softball program spend time at the Seattle Children's Hospital. There they play with the patients who are there long-term in the hospital's play and craft area.
While in Puerto Vallarta for the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge the team and staff were bussed to a local elementary school. While there the team and coaches taught the childeren ages from kindergarten to eighth grade softball drills and fundamentals.
HUSKIES ON THE AIR
This season the Huskies will have 21 games on television between three networks, ESPN3, the Pac-12 Network and the SEC Network. The Huskies' season opener versus Auburn on Feb. 9 will be aired on ESPN3. Their two game series at Alabama will be on the SEC Network. 18 of Washington's 21 conference games will be featured on the Pac-12 Network including the series against Arizona, UCLA, California, Oregon State and Utah.
UP NEXT
Next weekend Washington will begin conference play when they host the No. 21/22 Arizona State Sun Devils. The teams will open the weekend on Friday, March 17 at 6 p.m. PT Saturday, March 18 and Sunday, March 19 will bring two afternoon games at 1 p.m. PT and 12 p.m. PT, respectively.
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