University of Washington
Utah
Softball Set To Host Utah In Super Regionals
May 25, 2017 | Softball
2017 SEATTLE SUPER REGIONAL: No. 7 Washington vs No. 16 Utah
Game One
Friday, May 26, 8 p.m. (PT) (ESPN2)
Game Two
Saturday, May 27, 6 p.m. (PT) (ESPNU)
Game Three (if necessary)
Sunday, May 28, 7 p.m. (PT) (ESPN2)
THIS WEEK
The road to Oklahoma City continues at home for the University of Washington softball program (45-11, 16-8 Pac-12). For just the second time in program history, the Huskies will be a host for an NCAA Super Regional, hosting the Utah Utes. Washington is making its 24th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, and 13th straight under head coach Heather Tarr. Two or (if necessary) three games will determine the Seattle Super Regional Champion and will determine who moves on to the Women's College World Series. Washington is in search of its fifth super regional title, which would earn it the right to move on to their 12th WCWS appearance.
DAWG BITES
• The Huskies defeated the Michigan Wolverines 4-2 in the Regional Championship on May 21st. Morganne Flores plated the winning run with a two RBI double in the top of the sixth inning. Her fourth game-tying or game-winning double of the season. Ali Aguilar hit her 11th home-run of the season, tying Casey Stangel as team leaders.
• Sophomore hurler Taran Alvelo pitched her first career no-hitter to open regional play on May 19. Throwing 79 pitches and allowed only two free passes over five innings. Alvelo was most recently named Pac-12 Pitcher of the week to close out regular season. Third time this season. Previous weekly honors: week 1, February 14 and week 10, April 18.
• Washington finished the season 9-1 in their last ten games, sweeping number 11 Utah to wrap up regular season play; doing so in dramatic fashion with an 11-run comeback on Saturday, May 13.
• Eight Huskies were named to the Pac-12 All-Academic team on Monday. Those receiving honors were; Taylor Van Zee, Ali Aguilar, Casey Stangel, Julia Deponte, Kirstyn Thomas, Kelly Burdick, Trysten Melhart and Morganne Flores.
• Six Huskies were named to NFCA All-Region teams. Casey Stangel was named to the first team while infielders Ali Aguilar and Taylor Van Zee as well as battery unit Taran Alvelo and Morganne Flores were named to the second team. Rounding out the votes, Freshman Sis Bates was selected to the third team.
• Four Huskies were named to the Pac-12 All-Conference team last week. Ali Aguilar, Taran Alvelo and Casey Stangel all picked-up first team nods while Sis Bates was named to the All-Freshman squad and Ali Aguilar was tabbed for the All-Defensive team.
WASHINGTON IN THE RANKINGS
RPI: 4
Strength of Schedule: 4
ESPN/USA Softball: 7
USA Today/NFCA: 7
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Team BA .318
Team ERA 2.14
Runs Scored 297
Runs Allowed 139
All-time series: UW leads 28-5 | Pac-12: UW leads 13-4 | Post-Season: UW leads 1-0
Last Meeting: May 13, 2017 - Washington won 13-12 (8) in the largest comeback in program history. Stringing together 11 unanswered runs after trailing 12-1 in the fifth inning.
Washington swept the Utes in the final week of regular season play. UW won the series opener 12-1 in five innings before battling it out in back-to-back extra-inning games winning 4-2 on Friday and 13-12 on Saturday, May 13.
Only post-season meeting was in the NCAA Regional Championship in Seattle on May 21, 2000. UW won 9-0 in five innings.
YES-YES TO A NO-NO
Taran Alvelo pitched the 35th no-hitter in program history Friday night; the third in post-season play. She joins Bryana Walker (5/19/13 vs Hawai'i, Regionals) and Danielle Lawrie (5/31/07 vs DePaul, WCWS) as Husky hurlers who have posted clean sheets during post-seaon play.
IT AIN'T OVER…
In the final game of the regular season, the 2017 Huskies overcame an 11-run deficit to beat the University of Utah in eight innings. The comeback marked the program's largest in its history.
TOP OF THE TOP
The Huskies posted more wins (9) over top-15 ranked opponents than any other team in the field. Victories include: Oregon (2), Auburn, UCLA, Oklahoma, Minnesota (2) and Alabama (2). In the top-25, the Huskies are 18-8; adding series sweeps over Arizona State, California and Utah.
HOW SWEEP IT IS
UW cleaned house with series sweeps over Minnesota, Alabama, Utah, Arizona State, California, and Penn State.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Dawgs posted a 25-7 record on the road; knocking off both Oregon and Alabama on their turf in back-to-back weekends to start the month of April.
