The Husky Haul
Fansided

Catching up with Washington Softball: The No.1 team in the country

By Christopher Angkico

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 16: Dubs, the mascot for the University of Washington, takes the field prior to the game between the Washington Huskies and the Fresno State Bulldogs at Husky Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 16: Dubs, the mascot for the University of Washington, takes the field prior to the game between the Washington Huskies and the Fresno State Bulldogs at Husky Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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Potent Offense

Last season, infielder Kirstyn Thomas had a solid year as a first-time starter. She hit eight home runs and drove in 31 runs while batting .285.

But Thomas has come into her own this year as a senior. In the second game of the season, she recorded her first multi-home run game and a career-high six RBIs. This performance set high standards for Thomas going forward, and she has not disappointed.

She already has more home runs (11) and RBIs (41) this year than in her first three years combined (9 HRs, 35 RBIs), and earned the Pac-12 and ESPNW Softball Player of the Week awards in the same week.

Not to mention she’s also batting .407.

On February 25, she hit her 10th home run of the season, accomplishing that feat in only 18 games. This tied the Husky record for the fewest games needed to reach 10 home runs.

Fellow senior Julia DePonte is also a deadly hitter. She is second on the team with 10 home runs and has 34 RBIs while boasting a .340 batting average. DePonte and Thomas make Washington the only team in the nation to this point with two players that have hit 10+ homers.

Sophomore Sis Bates is yet another skilled hitter in an order full of them. She was awarded her first career Pac-12 Player of the Week honor for reaching base on eight of her nine plate appearances against Arizona. Bates leads the team with a .436 batting average and is sixth in the nation in runs scored (37), and second in the Pac-12 to Thomas.

Thomas, DePonte, and Bates provide massive offensive punch in Washington’s stacked lineup. If they can maintain their high levels of play, the Huskies should have no problem getting back to the Women’s College World Series.

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