March 31, 2004
Complete Sun Devil Softball Release in PDF Format
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ON TAP: After 44 non-conference games, the No. 24 Arizona State softball team (30-14; 0-0 Pac-10) will play 21 more games against Pac-10 competition as they open the conference season hosting No. 2 UCLA (27-1; 0-0 Pac-10) on Friday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. The Sun Devils will then host No. 7 Washington (24-7; 0-0 Pac-10) on Saturday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. and again on Sunday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m.
DEVILS' NO. 8 ALL-TIME: The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced the USA Today/NFCA All-Time Top 50 poll. The poll was compiled using weekly rankings from the 1995 season to the final poll of 2003. To date, Arizona State, which accumulated 36,613 points for a No. 8 all-time ranking - just 12 points behind seventh-place California - has been ranked in 100 of the 119 polls all-time and 70 consecutive dating back to the second week of 1999. Additionally, ASU has been ranked in 96 of the last 97 polls (week one of 1999, ASU was not ranked). Arizona State climbed to a school-record No. 3 in the nine-year history of poll during the 2000 and 2002 seasons.
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 31 games (more than half of their games) against top-25 teams, while 18 games came 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, the Pac-10, ASU will face a nationally-ranked team every time out. All eight Pac-10 teams are ranked in the top-25, including the top-3 and five of the top-11. Through March 29 the Pac-10 is a combined 224-40 (.848) against non-conference teams. Additionally, The Pac-10 placed all eight of its squads in the NCAA Tournament last season, with four teams advancing to the WCWS. For the third consecutive year (10th time overall), two Pac-10 teams squared off in the National Championship game and Pac-10 teams finished 1-2-3 in the final 2003 USA Today/NFCA poll, for a total of seven teams ranked in the top-25.
Complete release available in PDF above.