April 13, 2005
Complete Sun Devil Softball Release in PDF Format
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ON TAP: The 21st-ranked Arizona State University softball team (26-13, 1-6 Pac-10) will embark on the toughest road trip of the Pac-10 season. ASU will first travel to Los Angeles to face 13th-ranked UCLA (20-10, 1-4 Pac-10) on Friday at 1:00 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU, airing on a tape-delayed basis at 7:00 p.m. (PT). The Sun Devils will then head to Seattle to take on 24th-ranked Washington (19-14, 1-5 Pac-10) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Saturday's game will be televised live on Fox Sports Northwest.
SERIES NOTES: UCLA leads the all-time series 74-16-1 and won both games last year ... UW leads the all-time series 37-10 and won all three games in 2004.
DEVIL NOTES: ASU was picked to finish eighth in the Pac-10 Conference ... ASU is 12th in the nation in ERA (1.17) ... ASU is tied for first in the Pac-10 in saves (4), is second in batters struck out (301), and third in doubles (46) and walks (103) ... the pitching staff's 1.17 ERA is fourth-best in the conference ... 14 of ASU's 26 wins have been shutouts, third in the Pac-10 ... 14 of ASU's 15 players have at least one double ... opponents are batting .148 with runners in scoring position ... ASU is out scoring its opponents 45-13 in the first two innings ... ASU is 21-1 when scoring first and 12-1 when scoring in the first inning.
TOUGH SCHEDULE/TOUGHER CONFERENCE: As in any season, Arizona State will face many of the nation's top teams and traditionally holds a high RPI. Last year, ASU played 29 games (nearly half) against Top-25 teams, while 16 games were against Top-10 competition. This year is no different as ASU will play several non-conference/Pac-10 regular-season games against nationally-ranked teams. Within the toughest conference in the nation, ASU will face a Top-25 team every time out. All eight Pac-10 teams are ranked in the Top-25, including Nos. 2, 3, 8 and 10. In non-conference play in 2005, the Pac-10 holds a 185-43 (.811) mark. Additionally, the Pac-10 placed seven of its eight squads in the NCAA Tournament last season, with three teams advancing to the WCWS. For the fourth consecutive year (11th time overall), two Pac-10 teams squared off in the National Championship game, giving the conference its 17th title and fourth straight.
Complete Softball Release In PDF Form Above.