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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

Pac-12 power rankings: Wildcats continue conference free fall

Arizona+baseball+infielder+Bobby+Dalbec+%283%29+walks+back+to+the+dugout+during+Arizonas+8-3+loss+to+California+at+Hi+Corbett+Field+on+Sunday.+Dalbec+and+the+Wildcats+continue+to+drop+down+the+conference+rankings+as+the+losses+pile+up.
Emily Gauci

Arizona baseball infielder Bobby Dalbec (3) walks back to the dugout during Arizona’s 8-3 loss to California at Hi Corbett Field on Sunday. Dalbec and the Wildcats continue to drop down the conference rankings as the losses pile up.

1. No. 2 (USA Today) UCLA (31-9, 16-5 Pac-12 Conference)

The Bruins lost a battle to Stanford but won the war, taking the series 2-1. UCLA is 10-0 in weekend series.

Last week: first, W vs. UC Irvine 15-8, LWW at Stanford 6-1, 10-0, 9-3

This week: at Long Beach State (22-17, 8-7 Big West) (one game), vs. Gonzaga (20-21, 10-11 WCC)

2. No. 12 USC (30-12, 11-7)

The Trojans lost ground to their archrivals with a series loss at Oregon State. This week, they travel to Utah, another northern school.

Last week: second, WLL at Oregon State 11-3, 3-2, 9-6

This week: vs. Cal State Fullerton (22-20, 8-4 Big West) (one game), at Utah (14-25, 6-12)

3. Oregon State (27-13, 10-8)

The Beavers beat USC on Sunday to win their second straight series and leapfrog ASU, which was pretty much idle over the weekend. Oregon State has won four of its last six since dropping a series to Oregon.

Last week: fourth, LWW vs. USC 11-3, 3-2, 9-6

This week: at Washington (23-18, 8-13)

4. No. 10 ASU (28-12, 13-5)

The Sun Devils have won nine three-game series this year, matching their output from 2013 and 2014, with four series to go. However, they did lose a game to Tennessee Tech, whatever that is.

Last week: third, W at Arizona 6-5, WLW vs. Tennessee Tech 6-3, 7-4, 16-4

This week: at Arizona (24-17, 9-12) (one game), at California (26-14, 13-8)

5. California (26-14, 13-8)

Last week, the Golden Bears picked up their first sweep in Tucson under David Esquer, who became their coach in 2000. Cal’s sweep snapped its three-game losing streak.

Last week: fifth, L at Stanford 4-0, WWW at Arizona 3-1, 4-0, 8-3

This week: vs. Fresno State (21-23, 11-10 Mountain West) (one game), vs No. 10 ASU (28-12, 13-5)

6. Washington State (23-19, 7-11)

The Cougars were 12-15 entering the month, but they’ve won 11 of 15 and haven’t lost a series in that span while going the opposite direction of Arizona. This week, they face off for the all important sixth spot in the Daily Wildcat Pac-12 power rankings.

Last week: seventh, WLW at Utah 10-3, 4-1, 6-1

This week: at Washington (23-18, 8-13) (one game), vs. Arizona (24-17, 9-12)

7. Arizona (24-17, 9-12)

It wasn’t that long ago the Wildcats swept Oregon and Stanford and threatened ASU as the third-best team in the league. Since then, they’ve lost 11 of their last 13 and five in a row.

Last week: sixth, L vs. ASU 6-5, LLL vs. California 3-1, 4-0, 8-3

This week: vs. No. 10 ASU (28-12, 13-5) (one game), at Washington State (23-19, 7-11)

8. Oregon (25-19, 7-11)

The Ducks are still not living up to the hype that had them ranked early on in Pac-12 play, but they have won two of their last three series. Their only series loss since their embarrassing home sweep at the hands of Michigan State was to USC. Maybe classical mascots are their Achilles’ heel.

Last week: 10th, LWW vs. Washington 10-4, 4-3, 3-2 (11)

This week: vs. Stanford (18-23, 5-13)

9. Washington (23-18, 8-13)

The Huskies came within a run of taking a series at Oregon, but U-Dub has now lost three series in a row.

Last week: eighth, W at Seattle 4-3, WLL at Oregon 10-4, 4-3, 3-2 (11)

This week: vs. Washington State (23-19, 7-11) (one game), vs. Oregon State (27-13, 10-8)

10. Stanford (18-23, 5-13)

After winning a couple series in a row, the Cardinal dropped one at UCLA. Then again, that was the Bruins, so maybe Stanford’s recent Renaissance wasn’t a mirage.

Last week: ninth, W vs. California 4-0, WLL vs. UCLA 6-1, 10-0, 9-3

This week: vs. San Jose State (11-33, 4-17 Mountain West) (one game), at Oregon (25-19, 7-11)

11. Utah (14-25, 6-12)

After taking a series at Arizona and putting a scare into ASU, the Utes have come back down to Earth. Utah has lost five Pac-12 series in a row.

Last week: 11th, LWL vs. Washington State 10-3, 4-1, 6-1, L at BYU 7-6

This week: vs. No. 12 USC (30-12, 11-7)

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Follow James Kelley on Twitter.

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