SALT LAKE CITY - Utah Softball was pegged as the No. 18-ranked team in the country by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and USA Today in its annual preseason poll.
The Utes, who finished last season ranked No. 16 in the nation, return seven starters and both starting pitchers from a squad that reached the NCAA Super Regionals. Among those players coming back for Utah include Pac-12 Player of the Year and NFCA All-American
Hannah Flippen, 2016 Pac-12 honorees
Anissa Urtez,
Katie Donovan,
Ally Dickman and
Kay Kay Fronda along with 2015 Pac-12 selections
Miranda Viramontes and
Heather Bowen.
Utah opens play next weekend in Tempe, Ariz. at the Kajikawa Classic. The Utes begin with a doubleheader Friday (Feb. 10) vs. UC Riverside and San Jose State starting at 9 a.m. Contests against Indiana, UTEP and Texas-Arlington follow over the next two days.