"I think we have seen a lot of growth to this point in the season," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We had some great wins in Fullerton and we brought those back home and played a great series against Nebraska. We are just looking to build on that. I don't think we have peaked yet, we have areas where we can improve. I think that the biggest thing is that we feel like we are in a pretty good place, and we are ready to compete. That is our biggest job as coaches is to make sure that they are prepared and ready to compete."
LEADING OFF:
• The 21st- ranked Sun Devils will hit the road this weekend to open conference play in the 2017 season. ASU enters the weekend sporting a 19-5 overall record on the season, including wins in seven of their last eight contests.
• While the Sun Devils relied on pitching early int he season, ASU proved they could get it done at the plate this past week, pouring in 37 runs in four games last week. The Sun Devils connected on 17 extra-base hits including five long balls on the week, en rout to a .691 team slugging percentage.
• Chelsea Gonzales led the way for the Sun Devils at the plate, accounting for five runs and 12 RBI on the week. The senior shortstop knocked in a pair of home runs on her way to earning her first-career Pac-12 Player of the Week honor. Her weekly recognition was the first for any Sun Devil player in the 2017 season, and marked just the third Pac-12 Player of the Week honor for an ASU player in the last four seasons.
• With her five home runs this season, and 26 RBI, Gonzales has continued her climb on the ASU career leader board in both categories. This past weekend, Gonzales climbed to the No. 8 spot in career homers at ASU, tying Sun Devil legends Krista Donnenwirth (2008-11) and Alix Johnson (2011-14). In RBI, Gonzales has moved into tenth place, and trails 2016 ASU Hall of Fame inductee Phelan Wright (2001-04) by just two RBI..
• While the offense shined in the Sun Devils' four games last week, the pitching continued to be strong. ASU limited opposing batters to just two runs on 13 hits last week. The Sun Devils continued to be stingy with free bases, giving up just four total walks on the week.
• The Sun Devils' combined 1.22 ERA this seasons ranks 12th nationally entering the weekend. Florida leads the nation with a 0.64 combined team ERA. Individually, Giselle Juarez and Dale Ryndak are tied for 57 with a 1.31 ERA, while Breanna Macha ranks 80th with a 1.50 ERA.
• The Pac-12 looks to again be one of the nation's best when it comes to the sport of softball. Entering the weekend, six Pac-12 teams are ranked in the latest top-25 poll, will three of those teams checking in the top-10.Oregon leads the way for the conference of champions, checking in at No. 3 in both polls this week.
WEEKEND SCOUTING REPORT:
Washington enters the opening weekend of Pac-12 play boasting a 21-3 record on the season, including a seven game win streak. In their last outing, Washington blanked No. 7 Minnesota, 7-0, limiting the Golden Gophers to just three hits in the contest.
The Huskies have been dominant this season at the plate and enter the weekend with a .368 batting average, a mark that ranks fifth nationally. While the bats have been the main strength of UW in 2017, the pitching has also been impressive as Washington enters this weekend's series with a team ERA of 1.85, a mark that ranks 31st- in the nation this season.
After beginning the year ranked No. 13 in the preseason polls, Washington has continued to climbed in the rankings week-to-week. This week, the Huskies earned their highest ranking, checking in at No. 6 in both the NFCA and USA Today polls.
Washington has benefited from young talent so far this season, as freshman infielder Sis Bates has accounted for a lot of UW's impressive offensive numbers. The Ceres, Calif., native has currently ranks ninth in the conference with a .458 batting average that includes 33 hits already, a mark that ranks sixth in the league.
In the circle, Washington has relied heavily on sophomore Taran Alvelo who has already amassed a Pac-12 leading 12 wins in 2017, due in large part to her 78 strikeouts this season.
INSIDE THE SERIES:The Sun Devils enter the weekend series looking to flip their fortunes against the Huskies, after being swept in last season's series. UW holds a 52-26 lead in the all-time series, but the Sun Devils have won three of the last five series against the Huskies, including back-to-back sweeps in 2011 and '12.
Last 10 Meetings
4/13/13 No. 14 Washington L, 3-1
4/14/13 No. 14 Washington W 2-1
4/18/14 No. 11 Washington W 3-1
4/18/14 No. 11 Washington L, 3-2
3/13/15 at No. 17 Washington L, 8-7 (13)
3/14/15 at No. 17 Washington W, 9-7
3/15/15 at No. 17 Washington CANCELLED
4/8/16 No. 12 Washington L, 7-2
4/9/16 No. 12 Washington L, 6-1
4/10/16 No. 12 Washington L, 9-12
PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR:
For the first time in her illustrious career as a Sun Devil, senior shortstop Chelsea Gonzales earned Pac-12 Player of the Week recognition, announced by the league office Tuesday.
Gonzales led the Sun Devils in four wins last week, including three run rule victories. The La Habra, Calif., native went seven for 11 at the plate last week to maintain a team-leading .636 batting average. She also accounted for five runs on the week, while adding 12 RBI. Her two home runs, three doubles and one triple also led to her astronomical 1.636 slugging percentage for the week.
Gonzales posted multi hit efforts in three of the Sun Devils' four games last weekend, including back-to-back multi hit efforts to close out the Nebraska series on Saturday and Sunday. In ASU's midweek tilt against Maine, Gonzales recorded a season-high five RBI, a feat she would match on Sunday's series finale against Nebraska.
WHAT'S NEXT:
Following the weekend series against the Huskies, the Sun Devils will return to Tempe to close out the 2017 non-conference schedule with a doubleheader against New Mexico State on Wednesday. Game one of the mid-week slate is scheduled for 3 p.m. Following Wednesday's action, the Sun Devils will resume Pac-12 play with a three game series against Oregon State at Farrington Stadium Saturday through Monday.