STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford has been chosen by the conference coaches to finish eighth in the stacked Pac-12 Conference this season, the league announced today.
UCLA, which received five first-place votes and totaled 61 points overall, edged Washington as the favorite to win the Pac-12 title. Washington received four first-place votes and 60 overall points. The Bruins and Huskies are ranked first and second, respectively, in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top-25 poll to open the season.
Arizona is tabbed third with 50 points, followed by Arizona State in fourth with 43 points.
California and Oregon State share fifth with 31 points, followed by Utah (19), Stanford (17), and reigning Pac-12 Champion Oregon (12) to round out the poll.
Seven league teams earned berths to the 2018 NCAA Tournament last year, marking the 23rd-straight season that the Pac-12 has had five or more teams advance to the postseason, and the fifth time in seven years that seven Conference teams earned bids. Even more impressive, half of the eight team Women's College World Series field was made up of Pac-12 teams, with Washington, Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA all advancing to that stage.
Stanford returns 13 players from the 2018 roster, having lost only five from a season ago. Among the returnees are third-team All-Region picks Teaghan Cowles and Hannah Howell, and all four pitchers from last year. The Cardinal will also return Montana Dixon who hit .324 and led the team in RBI (26), but missed all of Pac-12 play due to a hand injury. Head coach Jessica Allister is in her second season at the helm of the program.
Stanford features one of the toughest schedules in the country, including an attractive set of 17 home games against 2018 NCAA tournament teams. The Cardinal's entire 32-game home schedule at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium will be ticketed, further enhancing the fan experience as several of the country's elite programs visit The Farm. Fans wanting their pick of the best available seats can purchase season tickets for $110.
The Cardinal will begin the 2019 season on Friday at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State. Stanford will open play against Bradley at 8 a.m. PT in a contest that will air live on Pac-12 Networks – the first of 18 scheduled Card contests on the Networks this year.
Pac-12 Coaches' Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | UCLA | 61 (5) |
| 2. | Washington | 60 (4) |
| 3. | Arizona | 50 |
| 4. | Arizona State | 43 |
| T5. | California | 31 |
| T5. | Oregon State | 31 |
| 7. | Utah | 19 |
| 8. | Stanford | 17 |
| 9. | Oregon | 12 |