The goal is to not change a thing.
The No. 23-ranked Utah softball team (34-17) has won 14 of its last 19 games, including six of the last nine against ranked teams. It has the most wins in a regular season (34) since the 2006 season and the most wins ever (12) in Pac-12 play.
So as the Utes prepare for their NCAA Tournament matchup — their first since that 2006 season — with Virginia Tech (34-21) in the Knoxville Regional on Friday afternoon, the focus is to continue on the same upward trajectory.
“There’s nothing physically different we need to be doing,” said head coach Amy Hogue, who was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year on Wednesday.
After improving each season since entering the Pac-12 conference, the Utes, who finished fourth in conference play and are the No. 2 seed in the regional, earned an at-large bid into the tournament. They took their place as one of seven Pac-12 teams to receive an invitation.
And what they’ve been doing to get there is relying on the strong bat of senior outfielder Kate Dickman.
The California-native has bat a team-best .507 over the last 19 games, totaling 11 doubles, four home runs, and 19 RBIs across the same time span. She is .448 for the season with nine home runs and 20 doubles.
Sophomore infielder Hannah Flippen is batting .373 on the season with seven homers and 28 RBIs. Defensively, Katie Donovan is 16-8 in the circle with a 2.58 ERA and six saves.
The Utes, who split the two-game final series with No. 20 Washington last weekend, picked up practice right where they left off with the added task of scouting the Hokies.
“Zip, zero, nothing,” Hogue said Sunday when asked what she knew about Virginia Tech, the No. 3 seed in the Knoxville Regional. “We will begin (watching film) tonight. We’ve recorded everything.”
Virginia Tech is the only team in the Knoxville Region that Utah has not played this season. The Utes defeated then-No. 10 Tennessee, 4-3, in February before defeating Longwood twice, 10-1 and 3-2, in March.
The Hokies finished seventh in the ACC and are coming off a 3-2 loss to North Carolina in the conference tournament. The team is led offensively by Breanna Davenport, a freshman outfielder who is batting .338 with 12 doubles, four homers, and 23 RBIs on the season.
Junior pitcher Kelly Heinz has a 12-6 record while in the circle and leads the team with a 2.47 ERA.
A win against Virginia Tech would give pit the Utes against the winner of No. 10 Tennessee vs. No. 9 Longwood on Saturday at 11 a.m. (MT). A loss would set Utah against the loser of the game between Tennessee and Longwood at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Vols and Lancers meet in the opening round Friday at 4 p.m.
Friday's games
Game 1: Virginia Tech vs. Utah (H) - 1:30 p.m. (MT)
Game 2: Longwood vs. Tennessee (H) - 4 p.m. (MT)
How to watch
All Knoxville Regional games will be streamed live on ESPN3.com and SEC Network+
sthomas@deseretnews.com
Sarah Thomas earned a degree in Mathematics from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing an MBA at Westminster College. She has been covering sports for the Deseret News since 2008.