The PAC-12 conference season got underway, and UCLA and Washington saw their winning streaks come to an end. The last two undefeated teams in Division I, both the Bruins and the Huskies not only each lost their first games of the year, but both teams lost their three-game conference-opening series’. UCLA handily beat Oregon in their first game, but were handled by the Ducks in back-to-back matchups to close the weekend. Arizona State and Giselle Juarez masterfully held Washington at bay in the first and last games of their own three-game set, with only a UDub 7-0 shutout win in the series’ middle game keeping them from being swept.
Elsewhere around the country, Alabama’s Alexis Osorio took a hit to the face in the final game of the Tide’s series against Auburn and will miss some time. Georgia put on a power show and took the series from Florida in convincing fashion, while Kentucky took care of business against LSU and Oklahoma built their winning streak up to sixteen games, with conference play on tap next.
Now, for the headlines and highlights of the week…
NEWS
- Belmont head coach Brian Levin earned the 300th win of his career.
- Texas head coach Connie Clark earned the 850th win of her career.
- South Carolina head coach Beverly Smith earned the 250th win of her career.
- Monmouth pitcher Amanda Riley set the program’s all-time record for strikeouts.
- McNeese State senior catcher Erika Piancastelli set the program career record for doubles.
- Gardner-Webb head coach Tom Cole earned the 500th win of his career.
- D2: Indianapolis head coach Melissa Frost earned the 600th win of her career.
- Hofstra head coach Larissa Anderson earned the 100th win of her career.
- Towson senior Brook Miko set the program’s career RBI record.
- Troy head coach Beth Mullins earned the 100th win of her career.
- Illinois head coach Tyra Perry earned her 500th career win.
- D2: Southern Arkansas’ Brooke Goad set the program’s career home run record and moved into a tie for second place all-time in Division II.
- Fordham head coach Bridget Orchard earned her 600th victory as the Rams’ head coach.
- WHAT WE MISSED: North Carolina Central head coach Vashion Johnson earned the 200th win of his career (3/7).
- Congratulations to the pitchers who recorded no-hitters and perfect games this weekend:
- Randi Rupp, Texas State (vs. Coastal Carolina, 6.0 IP, 11 SO, PERFECT GAME)
- Alexa Romero, Syracuse (vs. Virginia, 5.0 IP, 9 SO)
- Payton Buresch, James Madison (vs. Stony Brook, 5.0 IP, 4 SO)
- Mandy Jordan, Lipscomb (vs. Bradley, 7 IP, 12 SO)
- Tristin Achenbach, Montana (vs. Providence, 5 IP, 9 SO)
- Haley Irvis, LIU-Brooklyn (vs. Maine, 5.0 IP, 6 SO)
- Georgina Corrick, South Florida (vs. North Florida, 5.0 IP, 5 SO)
- Allie Reynolds, Princeton (vs. Florida A&M, 7.0 IP, 7 SO)
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT
HOT: South Florida
After a lackluster start to the season that culminated in a 2-3 record at their own hosted tournament, including a loss to Drake and two losses to Bryant, the Bulls are now riding a fifteen-game winning streak that dates back to March 2. A victory over Wisconsin started the streak and is the most impressive victory in the winning streak, but the Bulls know how to win ball games; the pitching staff has improved as the year has gone on; and Ken Eriksen’s squad is getting hot at the right time, with a midweek matchup against Florida and conference play looming.
NOT: Utah
A top 25 team in the preseason rankings, the Utes thus-far have failed to live up to expectations and are now just four games over .500 after a sweep at the hands of Arizona. The Utes held a lead for all of three innings through the course of the weekend series and the Wildcats scored three or more runs in an inning five times in the three games. The Utes have just two quality wins on the year, a comeback victory over Texas A&M and a one-run defeat of Texas State. In a year that seems to have been dominated by PAC-12 teams, the Utes are fading at the wrong time.
PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEK
Giselle Juarez, Arizona State — The Sun Devils pitcher turned in another impressive performance against Washington this weekend, limiting the Huskies to just seven hits and no runs in her pair of appearances against the nation’s #1 team. Juarez threw two complete games to bookend the series, and, matched up against Husky ace Taran Alvelo, emerged victorious with her second shutout of the series and eight strikeouts. Along with a midweek one-hit shutout, Juarez threw for nineteen innings, allowing just eight hits, no runs, and recording thirty-two strikeouts.
Lilli Piper, Ohio State — For Piper, the Buckeyes’ star and budding national award contender, it was one of the best week’s worth of games of her career. The Buckeye junior hit .565 on the week, with a 1.043 slugging percentage. She clubbed a trio of home runs, recorded nine RBI, and herself scored eight times. At one point during the week, Piper was 9-9 in consecutive, official at-bats and recorded five RBI and scored five times during that span.
Abbey Cheek, Kentucky — The Kentucky standout hit .727 on the week, with three extra-base hits and six RBI. She scored five times in her team’s four games, and had what would have been her second home run of the week negated on Monday after the would-be final game of her team’s series against LSU was called due to rain in the fourth inning. Not just a power threat, Cheek also stole three bases on the week and helped lead her team to four victories.
