PAC-12 teams begin conference play this weekend; in a league with an odd number of teams (nine), Stanford will sit out the opening weekend, while the remaining eight conference teams will go head-to-head to begin sorting out the conference fray.
The week’s matchups are headlined by UCLA traveling to Seattle to take on the Huskies of Washington, while Oregon will play at Arizona; Oregon State travels to Arizona State; and Utah hosts California. Let’s take a look at some of the players to watch in the first week of PAC play.
* Rankings referenced are the Extra Inning SB/JWOS Power Rankings
#6 Washington vs. #1 UCLA
Friday – Sunday in Seattle, Washington
Washington – Gabbie Plain, pitcher
> The co-ace approach that Washington has instituted over the last couple of years, including Plain and Taran Alvelo, has worked remarkably well for the Huskies. Plain leads the team with a sub-1.00 ERA on the season and remains perfect with a 9-0 record in the circle. Plain boasts a team-low .126 opponent’s batting average, and holds a 90/16 strikeout/walk ratio. The Bruin offense is potent, and Plain is riding one of the hottest streaks of her career. What happens when two immovable forces meet? The Aussie sophomore has the stuff to come out ahead.
UCLA – Bubba Nickles, outfield
> Inexplicably, even in her junior season, Nickles has yet to receive her due as one of the nation’s best athletes. She leads the nation’s top team in home runs with eight, and boasts a .351/.701/.427 slash line. Nickles’ twenty-six RBIs and fifty-four total bases are also team-bests. Facing the acclaimed pitching of Washington – at times, even a three-headed pitching monster with the addition of Pat Moore – the Bruins will need to get hot and stay there, and Nickles can be a catalyst to great offensive success, even against top-level pitching.
#11 Arizona vs. Oregon
Friday – Sunday in Tucson, Arizona
Arizona – Gina Snyder, pitcher
> Snyder might be the nation’s best comeback story – and an early, hearty contender for Comeback Player of the Year. The former Purdue transfer who once thought her collegiate career was over prematurely has looked impressive in limited work in the early season for the Wildcats. Mike Candrea took a full-staff approach in his team’s three-game series against Florida State last weekend, starting a different pitcher in each game, including Snyder in the series’ middle game. She responded by allowing four hits and three runs in five innings of work, as her offense had her back with a run-rule win. Snyder collected four strikeouts, but did give up five walks. Snyder can be an effective pitcher, and if Candrea elects to continue the all-hands-on-deck approach, you should see Snyder get a fair amount of work in conference play, and she could turn some heads, even as the staff’s #3 pitcher.
Oregon – Kailey Krueger, pitcher
> Entering last week, Krueger was a freshman pitcher who was a late addition to the Ducks’ roster for depth purposes entering the season. Missy Lombardi elected to give Krueger the first start of her college career in the final game of the 3-game series against Oklahoma State, only the third appearance of the first-year player’s career and at a point in time where she had just two full collegiate innings under her belt. Krueger’s final line – seven innings, twelve hits, nine runs, four walks – looks far worse than she actually pitched, and Lombardi might have another reclamation project with whom she can put her undeniable top-level skills as a pitching coach to work. Good timing, too, as Maddie MacGrandle has been drastically ineffective and the Ducks need a #2 behind Dail. Could we see Krueger begin to assume that role? A start in Tucson would be a definite sign in that direction.
#25 Arizona State vs. Oregon State
Friday – Sunday in Tempe, Arizona
Arizona State – Morgan Howe, outfield
> Following up an impressive 2018 season, Howe has looked good still to begin 2019. She sits second on the Sun Devils’ roster with an even .400 batting average, is tied for second on the team with seven home runs, and leads the squad in RBIs (34) and triples (3). The Sun Devils’ 20-7 overall record is deceiving, but Howe is one of several offensive weapons on the roster that can hold their own, and then some, against top pitching. She’s poised for an even greater breakout sooner rather than later.
Oregon State – Mariah Mazon, pitcher
> Sophomore Mariah Mazon enjoyed an impressive freshman season a year ago, and earned all-conference honors. She’s looked good, even great at times, to begin 2019, boasting a 1.49 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP with eight wins to her credit. Mazon averages more than a strikeout per inning, and has held opponents to just a .171 batting average against her.
Utah vs. California
Friday – Sunday in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah – Julia Noskin, outfield
> Noskin leads the Utes in batting average with a .418 mark, more than forty points above the second-leading hitter on the squad. Noskin leads the team in hits and runs scored, and boasts a .465 on-base percentage that also leads the program. She is a spark plug in the Utes batting order, and also leads the team in stolen bases, though with just five.
California – Lindsay Rood, infield
> Cal sits at 18-7 on the year, and a huge reason for the team’s success in the pre-conference season is Rood. A senior infielder, Rood enters conference play with an even .500 batting average, with forty-four base hits in eighty-eight at-bats. Rood leads the team in run scored; doubles; triples; total bases; slugging percentage; and stolen bases, and is second on the team in on-base percentage and home runs. Not only an emotional leader for the team, Rood is one of the league’s best, most underrated players and has a chance to continue her red-hot season as conference play begins.
