Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 7
What are the biggest takeaways in Big Ten softball from this past week? UCLA and Oregon stay at the top after series wins. Ohio State makes a jump after winning two of three against Nebraska. Meanwhile, Iowa keeps finding ways to win.
Big 12 Softball Week 7 Notable Results
UCLA swept Purdue
Oregon took two of three at Washington
Ohio State took two of three versus Nebraska (split Big Ten games)
Iowa won both games at Indiana
Wisconsin took two of three at Illinois
Maryland took two of three at Rutgers
Oklahoma City Pod
Northwestern 4-0 (beat Michigan State and Penn State twice)
Minnesota 2-2 (split four games against MSU and PSU)
Penn State 1-3 (lost both games to NW, split with Minnesota)
Michigan State 1-3 (lost both games to NW, split with Minnesota)
Big Ten Softball Tier 1 Teams
The former Pac-12 squads are still alone in the top tier but neither was perfect this past week.
1. UCLA (27-4, 3-0 Big Ten)
UCLA didn’t have an easy weekend against Purdue. The Boilermakers made the Bruins earn the last two wins. Jordan Woolery, who is having an All-American season, played a huge part in the weekend. She had the go-ahead homer on Saturday. Woolery has been everything the Bruins needed thus far after the graduations of Maya Brady and Sharlize Palacios.
2. Oregon (26-3, 2-1)
The Ducks weren’t able to pull off the sweep against Washington but there’s nothing wrong with a road series win these days. Katie Flannery brought much-needed power to the lineup this past week as Emma Cox remains out. She had three home runs and eight RBIs in the two wins over the Huskies. Oregon’s RPI doesn’t match its Top-10 ranking, making it important not to drop too many games to conference opponents with non-Top-50 RPIs such as Illinois this weekend.
Big Ten Softball Tier 2 Teams
These three will be in the Field of 64 come May.
3. Ohio State (22-6-1, 1-1)
The Buckeyes entered our Top 25 for the first time this season after taking the series against Nebraska. Kirin Kumar continues to get the best out of her offense. Ohio State has currently hit 60 home runs this season after hitting 65 all of last year. Seven different players currently have five or more blasts. Ohio State now travels to East Lansing to face Michigan State, which ranks last in the conference in ERA.
4. Nebraska (20-8, 1-1)
Nebraska has plenty of cause for concern in the circle. And this isn’t only about the pitching behind the Cornhuskers’ ace. Jordy Bahl has allowed 18 of her 22 earned runs in March. She’ll need to be better in the circle to help stabilize the staff but ultimately Hannah Camenzind, Emmerson Cope and Kylee Magee have to give them more. We’ll see what they look like this upcoming weekend against Minnesota.
Big Ten Softball Tier 2.5 Team
5. Washington (21-9, 1-2)
I don’t feel good about putting Washington with Ohio State and Nebraska due to the firepower and the star power of Jordy Bahl but they’re playing better than the teams in Tier Three. Thus the Huskies get their own tier. Washington came back and competed over being run-ruled in the series opener. Washington found a way to pick up the series finale, doing most of their damage against Lydnsey Grein as she lost her first game of the season. Ava Carroll and Jade Bubke stepped up with big home runs, a very good sign as Giselle Alvarez has been out with an injury.
Big Ten Softball Tier 3 Teams
These teams will battle for at-large bids but I feel better about a few than others.
6. Northwestern (13-9, 4-0)
The Wildcats had exactly the weekend they needed to kick off Big Ten play. Three of the four wins were pretty convincing over Penn State and Michigan State except for needing extra innings to beat the Spartans. The battery of Riley Grudzielanek and Emma Raye did the damage for Northwestern. Grudzielanek only allowed three runs over 12.2 innings across three games. Can she be the ace going forward? Meanwhile, Raye hit her first home runs of the season after hitting 10 last year.
7. Iowa (18-8, 2-0)
The Iowa players sure seem to be playing for one another given all that has happened in the coaching staff. The Hawkeyes already have as many wins as they did all of last season. Iowa outlasted Indiana in a pair of slugfests. Jena Young had a three-run homer and four RBIs in the first game against the Hoosiers, and Allyssa Ramos did the same in the second game. Can Iowa steal one from UCLA this weekend?
8. Michigan (20-8)
The Wolverines dropped a game to Missouri in Columbia. They are seeking consistency against NCAA Tournament-caliber teams. Michigan needs a similar week in Oklahoma City that Northwestern just had as they face Maryland and Wisconsin. Ellie Sieler is coming on strong after a slow start to the season.
Big Ten Softball Tier 4 Teams
These teams have work to do in hopes of making the postseason.
9. Indiana (20-7, 0-2)
The Hoosiers feel very disappointing this season, especially after dropping their first two games of Big Ten play to Iowa. Brianna Copeland has to step up in the circle and be the veteran presence the team needs right now. Indiana had a nice win against Notre Dame to start the week, but can’t afford a slip-up against a struggling Penn State squad.
10. Wisconsin (18-9, 2-1)
The Badgers actually have a better RPI than the Hoosiers right now, and one that is better equipped to make the postseason. Freshman two-way Kendra Lewis had a major influence in the series win over Illinois. She had a home run in each game and ended the weekend with eight RBIs. Wisconsin has a huge opportunity in Oklahoma City with Purdue and Michigan on deck.
11. Purdue (15-12, 0-3)
Despite not winning a game at Easton Stadium, Purdue turned a few heads last weekend. Kendall Klochack pitched well in her six innings as Purdue used everyone in the circle against the Bruins. If the Boilermakers keep playing at this level, it’ll translate to wins. We will see if they can keep it up against Wisconsin and Maryland.
12. Minnesota (13-15, 2-2)
The Golden Gophers are still struggling to pitch despite finding a way to split their games in Oklahoma City. They had Minnesota nearly walked with a 3-1 record after nearly coming back from a 12-0 deficit against Michigan State but it’s very difficult to win when put in that position. It doesn’t get easier with a Nebraska lineup looking for its first Big Ten series win.
13. Penn State (13-14, 1-3)
The season feels like for the Nittany Lions at the moment. However, things can still change as they head to Indiana. Haylie Brunson had a big weekend at the plate in Oklahoma City. She went 7-for-13 with two home runs and four RBIs.
14. Maryland (13-12, 2-1)
After struggling against Rutgers’ Ella Harrison in the first game, Maryland scored nine runs on her the rest of the weekend. Sydney Lewis and Mazie MacFarlane both hit two home runs during the series. Maryland can move up the rankings with a good showing in Oklahoma City.
14. Illinois (13-12, 1-2)
Illinois couldn’t quite win the series but the offense shouldn’t be blamed. Adisyn Caryl and Stevie Meade had a big series against Wisconsin. Caryl went 7-for-11 and Meade batted .400 with a pair of home runs.
16. Rutgers (16-17, 1-2)
After losing the series to Maryland, Rutgers has picked up a pair of non-conference wins in Oregon ahead of its games at Washington. It’ll be interesting how the young Scarlet Knights handle the second cross-country trip. Addie Osborne has had a slow start to her career but had a hit in every game against Maryland.
17. Michigan State (9-12, 1-3)
The Spartans found a win in Oklahoma City behind a quick start against Minnesota. Hannah Hawley did Hannah Hawley things as she walked away from the pod with a .545 average and three extra-base hits.
For more Power Rankings:
SEC Power Rankings | ACC Power Rankings | Big 12 Power Rankings
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