University of Florida

Florida cruised along with a No. 1 ranking up until the SEC Championship and Super Regionals in 2016. The Gator offense struggled to generate momentum late in the season, and this year may tell the same story.


(Scott Kurtz/FloSoftball)

Delanie Gourley, Aleshia Ocasio, and Kelly Barnhill will continue to dominate in the circle, but their run support is questionable. 

This season, they bring in two players from the Hot 100 and return many sophomores who are chomping at the bit.

To return to OKC, they need to prove they can hit one through nine.

Stanford

Rachel Hanson and the Stanford Cardinal won only two conference games in the last two seasons. Opponents have outscored Stanford 275 to 162. Like many other Pac-12 teams, Stanford must play catch-up with a stacked SEC to get the its conference back on top.


(Scott Kurtz/FloSoftball)

In year three, the pitching staff needs to improve dramatically with a staff overall ERA of 6.19. Freshmen Kiana Pancino, Nikki Bauer and Kayler Detmer will be added in the circle and the Cardinal did add more firepower to their lineup with Montana Dixon, Hannah Howell, and Kristina Inouye.

Stanford softball looks to improve in every area to get back on top in a very competitive Pac-12.

University of Texas

Following a 38-16 season, the Longhorns parted ways with hitting coach Corrie Hill and brought in former Sooner hitting coach Tripp McKay. Tiarra Davis must prove herself as a leader and rally her teammates to crack the Top 25.


(University of Texas Athletics)

Devon Tunning has the potential to make a huge impact, but will have Malory Schattle and Jade Gortarez nipping at her heels to get in the game.

With five incoming freshmen, the Horns need team cohesion and edge to prove themselves as one of the top teams in the country.

University of Oregon

After winning the Pac-12 regular-season championship and falling one game short of making it to the World Series, the Oregon Ducks finished the season 44-8.

You will not see Cheridan Hawkins in the circle or Alyssa Gillespie, Janelle Lindvall or Geri Ann Glasco in their lineup; however, they made up for those losses by bringing in the No. 1 recruiting class in 2016. They picked up two fresh arms in Miranda Elish and Maggie Balint.


(Scott Kurtz/FloSoftball)

Sophomore Megan Kleist will likely log the majority of innings for the Ducks, but year two proves to be tougher for pitchers.

The Ducks' deciding factors are Nikki Udria, Gwen Svekis, Megan Kleist, and Jenna Lilley. Oregon's leadership and consistency will depend on the tone those four set for the upcoming season.

University of Arizona

The Wildcats were up and down during the 2016 season, and finished 40-21 with a fifth-place finish in the Pac-12. Danielle O'Toole was a force last season in the circle, and led the team in strikeouts (192). O'Toole and Taylor McQuillin need support from the offense to step up.



Mo Mercado, Mandie Perez, and Katiyana Mauga put up good numbers on offense and defense. Those three combined for nearly half of their team's home runs and run production.

The freshmen will be the biggest difference-makers this upcoming season. With the No. 3 recruiting class, Alyssa Palomino, Dejah Mulipola, Jessica Harper, and Malia Martinez need to prove they can put pop in their order.

University of Missouri

Missouri had a tumultuous 2016 season with a team absolutely loaded with talent. Head coach Ehren Earleywine was under investigation for most of the year, which caused obvious rifts within the team.


(Scott Kurtz/FloSoftball)

The most devastating changes came from the circle. Paige Lowary and Tori Finucane both jumped ship. Lowary transferred to Oklahoma, and Finucane went to Minnesota.

Earleywine and the 2017 squad will need to prove they can win despite all of the controversy surrounding the Tigers' program.

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