Just over one-third of the way through conference play, the top teams in Pac-12 softball are attempting to separate themselves while the middle of the pack continues to shift positions.
Six teams from the conference are ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25, and eight teams are ranked in the top 41 in NCAA RPI. The RPI matters most as far as placement in the postseason, so that poll will also be referenced from this point forward. (Order: NFCA/RPI)
The State Press Sports power rankings:
The No. 2/7 Ducks took two of three from the Washington Huskies in Eugene last weekend, with a disappointing 10-2 loss in five innings being the only blemish on their Pac-12 résumé so far. Oregon's next task is a three-game series with UCLA in Los Angeles.
No. 10/11 UCLA swept Utah to start Pac-12 play, but also lost its first game in conference play to Washington. The Bruins' biggest challenge yet will be facing the Ducks, and whichever team reigns supreme in that series will establish itself as the best team in the Pac-12.
After 2-1 series victories over California and rival Arizona, No. 21/10 ASU softball has established itself as the third best team in the conference so far. While its overall record may not be as pretty, the Sun Devils had an incredibly tough out-of-conference schedule and possess the third best in-conference record. These are likely the reasons why ASU is ranked higher in the RPI than in the NFCA poll.
The No. 14/12 Wildcats are a better team than their rivals on paper, but losing the series to the Sun Devils proved costly in both the Territorial Cup and Pac-12 standings. Arizona's next opponent will be Oregon State for a three-game road series in Corvallis.
The No. 19/20 Huskies have faced the toughest conference schedule so far with three-game gauntlets against UCLA and Oregon. Washington came out with one win in each series and tied the series with ASU 1-1 earlier on in Pac-12 play before the rubber match was cancelled.
No. 17/9 California has struggled out of the gate in Pac-12 play, with four of its five losses coming to Arizona and ASU. A surefire way to get back on track would've been a sweep of Oregon State, but the Bears dropped game three and moved to 3-4 at home on the season.
Despite a 0-3 series loss to Civil War rival Oregon, the Beavers asserted their dominance over lowly Stanford, sweeping the Cardinal before taking one of three from California in Berkeley. Arizona will be in town next, bringing with them an opportunity for Oregon State to prove itself against a Pac-12 power. OSU is 38th in the NCAA RPI and unranked in the NFCA poll.
The Utes lost their first six conference games to UCLA and Oregon, but boast a 2-1 series victory over lowly Stanford. Coming in at No. 34 in the RPI, Utah's next opponent will be Southern Utah twice before a three-game slate against California.
The No. 78 in the RPI Cardinal are by far the worst team in the Pac-12, as well as the only team in the conference with an overall record under .500. Stanford managed its first conference win in a three-game series with Utah, but it's hard to imagine the Cardinal winning another conference game given the abilities of the teams remaining on their schedule.
Reach the reporter at rclarke6@asu.edu or follow @RClarkeASU on Twitter.
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