Washington softball has a lot to prove in season's final stretch

The Washington Huskies have been one of the hottest teams in the country this season, sitting at the top of the Big Ten with a 34-9 record and a perfect 15-0 against conference opponents. However, coach Heather Tarr's team is the lowest-ranked among the top four teams in conference, behind No. 4 Nebraska, No. 8 UCLA, and No. 17 Oregon.

After beating up on some teams at the bottom of the conference, the next two weeks will be a crucial test for the Huskies as they look to host an NCAA Regional for the first time since 2023. First, they have to travel to Eugene for a three-game series with the Ducks, which is set to begin on Friday, March 17, before the Bruins arrive in Seattle seven days later.

If the Huskies can come out on top in at least one of those two series, they'd be on the right track to wind up as regional hosts, but it's going to be a challenge. Washington is just 2-6 on the year against ranked teams, after early-season bouts with Oklahoma and Texas, who currently sit at No. 1 and No. 5 in the nation according to USA Softball.

Earning at least three wins over the next two weeks would send a message that, less than two years after Washington had to undergo a total rebuild, following the loss of eight players to the transfer portal and four to graduation, the Huskies are back on the national scene as one of the best teams in the country.

Sophomore Morgan Reimer has been one of the biggest keys to Washington's success this season, as the Team Canada star has established herself as one of the best pitchers in the nation. She leads the country with 22 wins, while her 2.03 earned run average is the second-best in the Big Ten, and her 104 strikeouts and 9 complete games both lead the team.

At the plate, Tarr has put together a formidable lineup, led by infielders Alexis DeBoer and Giselle Alvarez, and outfielder Kaycie Burdick. They've helped the Huskies post a .335 batting average and .999 OPS, with 316 runs scored, 62 home runs, and a 218:176 strikeout-to-walk ratio in what has been a strong year for the offense.

While the Huskies still have a lot to prove against some of the nation's best with just nine games remaining in the regular season, Tarr's squad holds plenty of talent and should be considered a threat to make a deep postseason run towards the Women's College World Series.