After the opening weekend of conference play, the race for the Pac-10 title is just starting to heat up.
Seven of the eight teams have eclipsed the 20-win mark already this season, and those same seven teams all hold top-25 rankings.
There’s no shortage of compelling storylines waiting to unfold as the season progresses.
ASU freshman pitcher Dallas Escobedo will take her first crack against the Pac-10’s best. UCLA looks to defend its 2010 National Championship title, while Stanford and Oregon hope to make some noise in the middle of the conference.
The next six weeks are sure to be interesting, but after just one weekend here’s how the conference is beginning to unfold.
1. ASU – 35-3, 2-1 Pac-10 (No. 3 ESPN/USA Softball, No. 3 NFCA)
The Sun Devils sit atop the Pac-10 standings after an impressive 33-win performance during the non-conference season and a series win over Cal to open Pac-10 play.
ASU jumped out to an incredible start to 2011 by beating top-25 teams Oklahoma State and Oklahoma in the opening weekend. The Sun Devils then strung together a 23-game winning streak.
It all starts with strong pitching for ASU, which owns one of the deepest and most talented staffs in the nation.
Escobedo has routinely shut down opposing lineups this season. She owns a 17-2 record with a 1.32 ERA.
Junior Hillary Bach has a 9-0 record with six complete games. Freshman Mackenzie Popescue has seen increased time in the circle, and has not disappointed by earning a 9-1 mark and a 1.60 ERA.
Supporting the pitching staff has been a lights-out batting order.
Junior shortstop Katelyn Boyd has led the way with her .467 batting average and 11 home runs. Behind Boyd, every hitter in the lineup is hitting .330 or higher.
2. Washington – 27-3, 2-1 Pac-10 (No. 6 ESPN/USA Softball, No. 7 NFCA)
The Huskies have relied heavily on an explosive offense for support in 2011.
UW features four hitters who own batting averages of at least .400. Junior outfielder Kimi Pohlman has become a constant threat offensively by hitting .495.
Another junior outfielder, Taylor Smith, has provided plenty of power at the plate as she leads the team with 10 home runs.
UW kicked off Pac-10 play by winning the series against UO at home. Earlier in the season, the Huskies reeled in several marquee wins over ranked opponents, including victories over San Diego State and Texas A&M.
3. Arizona – 32-6, 3-0 Pac-10 (No. 5 ESPN/USA Softball, No. 8 NFCA)
Last year’s runner up in the Women’s College World Series has experienced mixed results so far this season.
Nonetheless, the Wildcats are a team to be reckoned with in the Pac-10.
With sophomore pitcher Kenzie Fowler in the circle, UA swept its first conference series against Stanford last weekend. In the weekend finale, Fowler hurled a two-hit shutout to seal the sweep.
Senior outfielder Brittany Lastrapes has been sharp in the batter’s box with her .487 average and eight home runs.
4. UCLA – 26-5, 3-0 Pac-10 (No. 10 ESPN/USA Softball, No. 6 NFCA)
While the Bruins have suffered several early season losses, the reigning national champions simply cannot be overlooked.
Last weekend, UCLA completed the three game sweep over Oregon State with ease.
In the circle, freshman Jessica Hall and senior Donna Kerr have combined for 24 wins and have held opponents to a .195 batting average.
And don’t make a mistake when pitching to junior outfielder Andrea Harrison, who is hitting .432 with 10 homers this season.
5. California – 22-6, 1-2 Pac-10 (No. 9 ESPN/USA Softball, No. 12 NFCA)
The Golden Bears didn’t play the toughest of non-conference schedules, but did manage to claim wins over then ranked No. 8 Missouri and No. 14 LSU.
Cal possesses one of the Pac-10’s most talented pitchers in the form of sophomore Jolene Henderson. She has been dominant in the pitcher’s circle with a 20-4 record and a .89 ERA.
The Golden Bears managed to win the series finale against ASU last weekend after falling in the first two games. If Henderson’s strong pitching continues, Cal could be a surprising team down the stretch.
6. Stanford – 24-7, 0-3 Pac-10 (No. 14 ESPN/USA Softball, No. 13 NFCA)
It was an ugly first weekend for the Cardinal, who were swept by UA at home. Stanford was held to just one run in the three-game set.
Behind 13 wins from sophomore pitcher Teagan Gerhart and 11 more wins from senior Ashley Chinn, the Cardinal have shown they’re more than capable of competing at an elite level.
In just the second week of the season, Stanford handed then ranked No. 3 Tennessee a 5-0 loss.
However, the upcoming schedule isn’t particularly kind to the Cardinal, who will travel to UCLA, Cal, UO and ASU.
7. Oregon – 29-6, 1-2 Pac-10 (No. 16 ESPN/USA Softball, No. 15 NFCA)
The Ducks continue to be a team on the rise after a 2010 season that saw them take significant strides forward.
A season ago, UO finished with a 33-19 record that included eight conference wins and a trip to the postseason. The year prior, the Ducks won only three Pac-10 contests.
The improvement is due in large part to pitcher Jessica Moore, who has reeled in 14 wins with a 1.21 ERA.
UO will undoubtedly be tested in the coming weeks with road matchups against Cal and UA.
8. Oregon State – 16-11, 0-3 Pac-10
Rounding out the Pac-10 are the Beavers, who were swept by UCLA and outscored 27-5 in the series.
Junior outfielder Mary Claire Brenner has been a bright spot for OSU. She leads the team with a .328 batting average and 18 RBI.
Junior pitcher/designated player Paige Hall has also performed well in the batter’s box. She has smacked a team leading four home runs so far this season.
Reach the reporter at greg.dillard@asu.edu