UCLA softball (41-5, 16-2 Big Ten) will travel north to face No. 22 Washington (34-12, 15-3) from Friday to Sunday at Husky Softball Stadium. The Bruins are just a game ahead of the Huskies in the conference standings, with the weekend matchup boasting big implications ahead of the Big Ten tournament. Daily Bruin contributor Kate Bergfeld will analyze the Huskies’ roster ahead of the conference showdown.

Washington Personnel:

Position Player to Watch: Alexis Deboer

Pitcher to Watch: Sophia Ramuno

X-Factor: Giselle Alvarez

Washington Stat Profile:

Batting Average: .333

Runs: 325

Earned Run Average: 3.11

Ranked No. 22 in the NCAA, the Huskies sit in the middle of the pack.

But in the Big Ten, they are right on the Bruins’ heels. Wisconsin is ranked fourth with just one loss more than UCLA, and the upcoming series could shake up conference standings.

And Giselle Alvarez is a key part of this possible shift.

The infielder leads the team in many batting stats, including RBIs at 51 and doubles at 10 along with total bases and hits at 115 and 61, respectively. She also has the most at-bats on the team.

Alveraz even hit a grand slam March 8 against Northwestern, and she boasts a .396 batting average.

But she is not the only Husky to watch out for.

Pitcher Sophia Ramuno limits opposing teams to a .217 batting average, having allowed 66 hits and 35 runs thus far. She pitched a shutout game Feb. 6 and was also awarded Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week once this season.

Alexis DeBoer is having a standout sophomore campaign for the Huskies. The infielder kicked off the year with three home runs at the UTSA Invitational and has since earned a spot on the USA Softball’s Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List. On April 11, DeBoer logged her first grand slam of the season, and she recorded three RBIs in back-to-back games against San Diego State and Cal Poly on Feb. 28 and March 1.

The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, local is also a fielding threat, leading the team in double plays with 10 this season. And she boasts a team-leading 286 putouts – over 100 ahead of the next closest teammate.

Despite the Huskies’ strong individual players, the Bruins boast stronger team hitting numbers.

The Bruins have recorded 520 runs compared to the Huskies’ 325, which is supplemented by the latter’s .393 batting average to the former’s .333.

However, Washington has allowed just 273 hits and 156 runs.

And UCLA has forfeited 294 hits and 194 runs.

The series will likely come down to fielding.

Washington leads with 885 putouts to UCLA’s 820. But the Bruins’ 85 double plays trump the Huskies’ 71. With identical team fielding percentages and the Huskies’ two additional errors, the teams have comparable defensive units.

While the Bruins have a 55-28 historical record against the Huskies, a new year means a new team.

With balanced stats, it could be a very close series.