The University of Utah softball team has moved up in the latest ESPN/USA softball rankings, and now sits at No. 22, up two spots from last week.
This week’s ranking is the program’s highest since finishing ranked No. 20 in the 2000 season.
The Utes will close out the 2015 regular season Thursday-Saturday when they host No. 20 Washington at Dumke Family Softball Stadium. The Utes and Huskies will get the series underway Thursday at 6:05 p.m., with Friday’s contest to begin at 5:05 p.m. Saturday’s finale has a first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
Prior to Friday’s contest, Utah head basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak will throw out the first pitch in celebration of the Runnin’ Utes’ Sweet 16 appearance this past March.
Last week’s ranking in the Top-25 was the program’s first national ranking since checking in at No. 25 in the NFCA Preseason Poll back in 2001 and the first time to be ranked in the midst of a season since being ranked No. 25 Feb. 22, 1998.
Utah earned its first back-to-back weekly ranking since the 1998 season when it opened the campaign at No. 18 and then checked in at No. 25 the following week.
The Utes have won 33 games on the season, making it the most victories for the program since recording 40 victories in 2006. The 33 victories are the most under head coach Amy Hogue.
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Xoel CÀrdenas, MA, is a writer with Deseret News: Sports. Xoel is also a columnist at SB Nation, the largest sports blog site in the country, where he covers FC Barcelona. Follow him on Twitter @XoelCardenas.