University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Bruins Ranked No. 4 in 2022 D1Softball Preseason Poll
January 18, 2022 | Softball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA softball program will begin the 2022 campaign at No. 4 in the D1Softball preseason Top 25 according to a Tuesday release by the organization. The USA Today / NFCA Division I Coaches Poll will be announced on Feb. 1.
Ahead of the Bruins are the defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners at No. 1, Alabama at No. 2 and Oklahoma State at No. 3. In order after UCLA, Florida, Florida State, Washington, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri held down spots 5-10. Three other Pac-12 universities were voted in the Top 25: No. 15 Arizona, No. 16 Oregon and No. 21 Arizona State.
The Bruins are scheduled to face four top 10 teams, including No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 6 Florida State, No. 7 Washington and No. 9 Texas, and nine of the preseason Top 25 during the 2022 season.
Coming off a 47-7 (19-2 Pac-12) record in 2021, a No. 5 final ranking in the USA Today/NFCA poll and a sixth-straight appearance at the Women's College World Series, UCLA is returning a veteran team featuring 10 players who appeared in at least 40 games and 17 total letter winners who accounted for 63% of its hits and 82% of its runs.
The Bruins have also added six newcomers, including freshman utility Savannah Pola who was slotted as one of D1Softball's Top 75 impact freshman and left-handed grad transfer pitcher Lauren Shaw from Iowa who posted a career 2.26 earned run average over three seasons as a Hawkeye.
Among UCLA's returners are National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Americans Aaliyah Jordan, Megan Faraimo and Maya Brady on the First Team as well as Briana Perez on the Third Team.
Ahead of the Bruins are the defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners at No. 1, Alabama at No. 2 and Oklahoma State at No. 3. In order after UCLA, Florida, Florida State, Washington, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri held down spots 5-10. Three other Pac-12 universities were voted in the Top 25: No. 15 Arizona, No. 16 Oregon and No. 21 Arizona State.
The Bruins are scheduled to face four top 10 teams, including No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 6 Florida State, No. 7 Washington and No. 9 Texas, and nine of the preseason Top 25 during the 2022 season.
Coming off a 47-7 (19-2 Pac-12) record in 2021, a No. 5 final ranking in the USA Today/NFCA poll and a sixth-straight appearance at the Women's College World Series, UCLA is returning a veteran team featuring 10 players who appeared in at least 40 games and 17 total letter winners who accounted for 63% of its hits and 82% of its runs.
The Bruins have also added six newcomers, including freshman utility Savannah Pola who was slotted as one of D1Softball's Top 75 impact freshman and left-handed grad transfer pitcher Lauren Shaw from Iowa who posted a career 2.26 earned run average over three seasons as a Hawkeye.
Among UCLA's returners are National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Americans Aaliyah Jordan, Megan Faraimo and Maya Brady on the First Team as well as Briana Perez on the Third Team.
Players Mentioned
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