During Oregon softball season, our sports staff will discuss various topics surrounding an upcoming series. Today, Emerald sports reporters Hayden Kim, Ryan Kostecka and Jonathan Hawthorne discuss Oregon’s weekend series versus Stanford and the Ducks’ outlook the rest of the season.

1) Stanford (27-18, 3-12 Pac-12) is ranked eighth in the Pac-12 heading into the series. Is this series important in the long-run? Why or why not?

Kim — While the Cardinal will likely be one of the lesser teams the Ducks will play this season, every game moving forward — especially in the Pac-12 — matters. With a regular season Pac-12 title and home-field advantage on the line, the Ducks will presumably enter this series with the same mentality they have all year. I have the Ducks picking up another sweep.

Kostecka — Ordinarily, I would say the series isn’t important based on records alone, but this series is important for the Ducks. With their final two series against Arizona and Arizona State coming after Stanford, this is a perfect trap series for the Ducks with where they could be looking ahead. This series will be a pivotal for pitchers Cheridan Hawkins, Karissa Hovinga and Jasmine Smithson-Willett to fine tune some of their mistakes in preparation for the end of the season and postseason.

Hawthorne — The Ducks are no doubt looking to continue their winning ways and wanting to continue to prove they deserve their No. 1 ranking. Even if Stanford’s record doesn’t impress, the Cardinal showed that they can take down a top-10 team in Washington earlier in the month. Oregon can continue to learn a lot about their strengths and weaknesses by winning games on the road.

2) With three series remaining on the season, what is a realistic finish for the Ducks? 

Kim — The Ducks have sustained the No. 1 ranking for a couple weeks now and it doesn’t look likely they’ll give it up anytime soon. Having said that, two of the three remaining series are against Pac-12 opponents and there really are no guarantees under that context. I, however, still have the Ducks finishing atop of the national standings and winning the regular season Pac-12 title.

Kostecka — Realistically, I think Oregon finishes the regular season as Pac-12 champions and a top-three team in the country. I think the Ducks will lose, at maximum, two of their final 11 games on the season to earn a top-eight national seed and have home-field advantage until the College World Series.

Hawthorne — Without a doubt, Oregon will finish out its season strong and win the Pac-12 title, which will only boost the Ducks heading into post-season play. Finishing either No. 1 or No. 2, the Ducks will want to ensure that they do not let their feet off the gas pedal because momentum can be everything.

3) The Ducks will host No. 5-ranked Arizona State in two weeks. Who do you have in the series and why?

Kim — I have the Ducks winning two of the three games. With the series being at home and the way they have been playing as of late, it will be hard for any team, even the Sun Devils, to come into Howe Field and pick up more than a win. But considering Arizona State is as good a team the Ducks will see this season, it will undoubtedly be one of the more important and entertaining series of the year.

Kostecka — I also think Oregon wins the two of three in the series, just because the Sun Devils and starting pitcher Dallas Escobedo are too good of a team to be swept. Escobedo is arguably the best pitcher in the country and they’ll find a way to pull out a win, much like Ally Carda and the time UCLA visited Oregon earlier in the year.

Hawthorne — I agree with my colleagues that Oregon will take two of three from the Sun Devils. I think that this series will be key for Oregon to make a final statement before the season ends. With Arizona State, the Ducks will once again have an opportunity to validate their success with a strong showing.

4) The Ducks have been eyeing the College World Series title since the beginning of the year. Do you believe they have a legitimate shot at winning it all and if so? What will it take to do so?

Kim — While the Ducks posed one of the more complete rosters in program history with Jessica Moore on the mound last season, the Super Regionals proved that softball is a game a runs. For this year, I believe the Ducks have an even better shot at competing for a title. They may only have three seniors, but the team features more weapons than in year’s past. Simply put, this is arguably the best team in Oregon history. In regards to winning, the Ducks will need to begin and end their game on the mound. If Hawkins, Hovinga and Smithson-Willett can carry over their regular season production into the postseason, this team will be extremely tough to beat.

Kostecka — Oregon has as good as chance as any team in the country to be crowned as national champions, based on the overall balance the team has. Hawkins is one of the top pitchers in the country and Hovinga is no slouch herself, making for a great 1-2 combo. Oregon’s offense is as deep as it gets with eight of its nine batters hitting over .300 on the season. Seven Ducks have hit three or more home runs on the year and Courtney Ceo is the best leadoff hitter in the nation with a .486 batting percentage (top in the Pac-12). The Ducks have the talent but they’ll have to believe in themselves, mainly Hawkins, that they can be No. 1 at the end of the year.

Hawthorne — The Ducks are here to stay in the conversation for a national title, which is quite the accomplishment in itself. With a great coaching staff and an explosive offense, Oregon is sure to be in the competition and playing on the final day of the softball season. I echo the sentiment above that Hawkins, Hovinga and Ceo are definitely the keys to success. They’ve got all the tools in the shed, it’s just about execution and making sure the machine is running on all cylinders when the spotlight is on them.

Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne