Two Pac-12 Baseball teams ranked heading into Conference play

Pac-12 Content Image

COMPLETE RELEASE

PREVIEWING THE WEEK:
Pac-12 Baseball kicks off Conference play this week with two teams ranked in the USA Today Sports Baseball Coaches poll Top-25. No. 2 UCLA looks to continue its league-leading success as it welcomes OREGON this week, and No. 10 ARIZONA STATE aims to extend its five-game win streak as it hosts UTAH. This week’s Pac-12 Networks matchup will feature OREGON STATE at ARIZONA on Saturday, March. 14 (6:00 p.m. PT) and Sunday, March 15 (1 p.m. PT)

NOTABLES:
• USC and UCLA both earned notable wins this week, including two upsets and three ranked victories. The Trojans recorded the league’s fourth and fifth upsets of the season defeating then- No. 18 TCU (2-1) and the then-No. 5 2019 College World Series Champions Vanderbilt (2-1). The Bruins also topped the Commodores 3-2 to capture the league’s seventh-ranked win this year.
• Arizona State and WASHINGTON STATE recorded perfect series sweeps last week. The Sun Devils topped Fresno State (4-3, 9-4, 8-3) and the Cougars took four from Niagara (16-7, 6-3, 10-4, 15-2).
• ASU’s Spencer Torkelson continues his hot start this season as he currently leads the country in walks (31) and has the third-most runs in the nation (24). The junior also leads the Conference in walks, runs, home runs (6), slugging percentage (.780) and on-base percentage (.598).

PRESEASON NODS:
The Pac-12 has nine total preseason All-America selections from three different schools. Four student-athletes were named to all five preseason All-America lists, including Arizona’s Austin Wells, Arizona State’s Spencer Torkelson, and UCLA’s Holden Powell and Garrett Mitchell. Junior infielder Torkelson was selected first team for all five lists, and was also named the 2020 Collegiate Baseball Projected Player of the Year. Junior pitchers Erik Tolman of Arizona State and UCLA’s Powell were selected to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List.

GOLDEN SPIKES:
The Pac-12 is home to nine Golden Spikes Award winners, leading all other conferences, after former Beaver Adley Rutschman claimed the league’s second-consecutive award last season. Six Pac-12 student-athletes were named to the 2020 Golden Spikes Award watch list, including consensus preseason all-americans Arizona catcher Austin Wells and Arizona State infielder Spencer Torkelson. The list is further highlighted by fellow Sun Devil infielders Alika Williams and Gage Workman, and UCLA outfielder Garrett Mitchell and right-handed pitcher Holden Powell. Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the nation with this award, given each year to the player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship.

STOPPER OF THE YEAR:
The Pac-12 has two student-athletes on the 2020 NCBWA Preseason Watch List, including 2019 NCBWA Stopper of the Year UCLA’s Holden Powell and sophomore Erik Tolman of Arizona State. The NCBWA presents the Stopper of the Year Award to the top relief pitcher in Division I baseball for the 16th straight year at the College World Series on Saturday, June 13, 2020.

MLB DRAFT
Seventy Pac-12 student-athletes were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, including former Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles, giving the Conference an NCAA-best seven No. 1 overall draft-picks. For the eighth-straight year, all 11 league programs had at least one player drafted. Additionally, the Pac-12 averaged 6.36 student-athletes drafted per team, the best average of any conference. The Conference had three picks in the top 10 for the first time since 2006 with California’s Andrew Vaughn being selected with the third pick and Arizona State’s Hunter Bishop chosen with the 10th pick. UCLA’s 13 selections are tied for the most of any school in the nation. After UCLA, Stanford had the second-most picks in the Pac-12 with nine, followed by California, Oregon State and USC with seven selections apiece.


CONFERENCE STANDINGS (Expanded Standings)

Teams Pac-12 Record Overall Record
UCLA 0-0 13-2
Arizona State 0-0 13-4
Arizona 0-0 10-5
USC 0-0 9-5
Washington 0-0 9-6
Washington State 0-0 9-7
Oregon 0-0 8-7
Utah 0-0 6-7
Oregon State 0-0 5-9
California 0-0 5-11
Stanford 0-0 5-11

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (All Times Pacific - Expanded Schedule Details)

Wednesday, March 11 TV/Stream Time
Xavier at USC Live Stream  
Friday, March 13    
California at Washington State* Live Stream 3:05 p.m. PT
Oregon at #4 UCLA*   6:00 p.m. PT
Washington at USC* Live Stream 6:00 p.m. PT
Oregon State at Arizona* Live Stream 6:00 p.m. PT
Utah at #10 Arizona State* Live Stream 6:30 p.m. PT
Saturday, March 14    
Oregon at #4 UCLA* Live Stream 2:00 p.m. PT
Washington at USC* Live Stream 2:00 p.m. PT
California at Washington State* Live Stream 2:05 p.m. PT
Oregon State at Arizona* P12N 6:00 p.m. PT
Utah at #10 Arizona State* Live Stream 6:30 p.m. PT
Sunday, March 15    
California at Washington State* Live Stream 12:05 p.m. PT
Utah at #10 Arizona State* Live Stream 1:30 p.m. PT
Oregon at #4 UCLA*   1:00 p.m. PT
Washington at USC* Live Stream 1:00 p.m. PT
Oregon State at Arizona* P12N 1:00 p.m. PT

 

Rankings listed are USA Today Coaches Poll


PRESEASON NATIONAL HONORS 

USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Austin Wells, C,  ARIZ
Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
Holden Powell, RHP, UCLA
Spencer Torkelson, IF,  ASU
Alika Williams, IF, ASU
Gage Workman, IF, ASU

NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List: 
Holden Powell, Jr , UCLA
Erik Tolman, So., ASU

Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-Americans
First Team 

Holden Powell, RHP, UCLA
Spencer Torkelson, 1B,  ASU

Second Team
Jake Mulholland, LHP, OSU
Austin Wells, C, ARIZ
Garrett Mitchell, OF,  UCLA

Collegiate Baseball Projected Player of the Year
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU

D1Baseball.com Preseason All-Americans
First Team

Spencer Torkelson, DH, ASU
Alika Williams, SS, ASU
Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
Holden Powell, UCLA

Second Team
Austin Wells, C, ARIZ

Perfect Game Preseason All-Americans
First Team
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU
Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
Holden Powell. RP, UCLA

Second Team
Austin Wells, C, ARIZ
Alika Williams, SS, ASU

Baseball America Preseason All-Americans
First Team

Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU
Garrett Mitchell, UCLA 

Second Team
Austin Wells, C, ARIZ
Gage Workman, 3B, ASU
Alika Williams, SS, ASU

NCBWA Preseason All-Americans
First Team 

Spencer Torkelson, 1B, ASU
Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
Matthew Dyer, DH, ARIZ
Holden Powell, RP, UCLA

Third Team
Austin Wells, C, ARIZ
Trevor Hauver, OF, ASU