The Nevada softball team already has a Mountain West title wrapped up — the program’s first as a MW member — but has a chance this week to reach even loftier heights.
The Wolf Pack (40-14 overall and 18-4 to win the conference title by two games) is the top seed for the Mountain West tournament in San Diego. Nevada will open on Thursday against the winner of an elimination game between fourth-seeded Utah State and No. 5 Boise State.
The Pack has already qualified for the double-elimination portion of the event, which concludes Saturday. The winner is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA regional round.
Nevada’s 40 wins is tied for second in program history for a single season. The Mountain West regular-season title was the first championship of any kind for the program since 2009, when the Pack shared a WAC title.
The Wolf Pack’s leaders include one with Northern Nevada ties. Pitcher Hailey McLean (Spanish Springs) is the ace of the staff, compiling a 16-6 record with a 2.59 ERA over 129-plus innings. At the plate, Nevada has counted on five-time MW player of the week Aaliyah Jenkins (Tracy, Calif.), who enters the tournament hitting .455 with 16 home runs, 57 RBI, and 30 steals, all team-leading figures.
Infielder Avery Cordell (Damonte Ranch) and utility player Alycia Coats (Reed) are the Pack’s other players from Northern Nevada.
OREGON LEADS BIG TEN
Following a dominant regular season, the Oregon softball team will seek to continue its success at the tournament level.
The Ducks, led by two sisters from Carson City, are the top seed for the Big Ten tournament, which begins Wednesday at West Lafayette, Ind. Oregon, ranked No. 3 in the major national polls, is 47-6 overall and won the Big Ten title at 19-3.
Carson High products Kai and Kedre Luschar have been two of Oregon’s leaders all season. Kai Luschar leads the nation with 53 stolen bases and is hitting .401 after appearing in all 53 of the Ducks’ games. Kedre leads the team with a .467 batting average that includes five home runs and 51 RBI.
Oregon opens the tournament Thursday (1:30 p.m.) against the winner of the Wisconsin-Michigan game. The championship game for the single-elimination event is Saturday.
All 11 games of the tournament will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
MW TOURNAMENT
When: Wednesday-Saturday
Where: San Diego
Teams: 6
Format: Two elimination games, followed by a four-team double-elimination tournament
Nevada: The Wolf Pack is the No. 1 seed and will begin play Thursday