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Q&A with Pat Moore: Why The Big East Pitcher Of the Year in 2018 Transferred to Washington

Pat Moore pitches in a Washington scrimmage on October 21, 2018. (Photography by Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures)

In a year that’s seen a huge spike in college player transfers, the one this summer involving pitcher Pat Moore was a most interesting one.

The true freshman from Medford, Oregon made a huge splash in the Big East Conference, compiling a 12-6 record at DePaul, a conference-best 2.11 ERA and was second in the Big East with 158 strikeouts (in 126 innings) as a lefty with good spins and movement on her pitches.

By the time her rookie season was over, the 5-foot-8 pitcher had led DePaul to conference title–capped by her three scoreless innings to close out the championship game–and a spot in the NCAA Regionals. She herself was an All-Big East 1st Team selection and was the Big East Conference Pitcher of the Year.

So why did she transfer in July to Washington–which made it to the Women’s College World Series final–and join a pitching staff that compiled a 1.18 ERA last year and returns two NFCA All-Americans in Taran Alvelo and Gabbie Plain?

Before we get to that answer, a bit more background on the successful hurler: Pat first made her presence known on the national recruiting state when she shined at the 2014 OnDeck West Coast Elite Camp.

Pat as she looked in 2016, when she was ranked as one of the top 100 players in the nation and an All-State pitcher in Oregon.

The pitcher was ranked by Extra Inning Softball’s Brentt Eads as one of the top 100 players in the 2017 class as she dominated in the circle at the club level for the Northwest Bullets and for her South Medford High team, earning All-State honors as a junior with 387 K’s in 178 innings and a state-best 16 shutouts before finishing her prep career as a two-time Conference Pitcher of the Year (sound familiar?) and with an outstanding 1,338 strikeouts.

She didn’t miss a beat after hitting Seattle, either; at the Husky Fall Classic in early October, Pat shutdown Simon Fraser allowing only one hit in six innings while striking out four.

The newcomer gives Washington arguably the best pitching staff in the nation–how many top programs can say they have three All-Conference pitchers in their rotation?–but why would Pat willingly come to the Pac-12 school when she knew she’s be the No. 3 pitcher out of the game?

Her answers may surprise you, but you can’t argue with her reasoning!

Here’s the text of the interview done with Pat earlier today…

*****

What a great collegiate start you had in 2018, earning All-Big East honors as well as the Big East Pitcher of the Year… what was that like?
It was an amazing year at DePaul, I learned a lot, grew up a lot and matured as people do when they go away to school. It was a good experience in that I learned how to manage my emotions without having my family right by me. It was a total learning experience and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. Overall, it was a super positive experience and a great year of maturation.

Like many programs, DePaul had a coaching change (Eugene Lenti was replaced by Tracie Adix-Zins)… what that what led to your transfer to Washington?
The coaching change played a factor, but it was primarily because I wanted to be closer to home. I met the new coach and liked her; I didn’t base my decision on Coach Eugene leaving, it was just good for me and my family for me to be back on the West Coast. It was definitely a hard decision, though, as I have a lot of friends at DePaul. I called all my teammates and explained my decision and that was hard for me, telling them as I had made really good friends there. But ultimately, I think I fit super well in the environment at Washington and when I got the opportunity I knew it was meant to be. God has a plan, for sure, and that was His plan for me.

Once Pat got her release, she wrote to the Husky coaching staff and the process began for her to transfer to UW.

How did Washington come into the picture after you decided to leave DePaul?
I got my release and then emailed Coach (Heather) Tarr and J.T. (D’Amico) and told them, “I’m interested in transferring to Washington and here’s my release papers” and thankfully they responded. We talked a bit and I was super excited once I found out there was interest as I knew I was ready to go there. I was excited because of the team environment, the values they teach and how Coach Tarr prepares us for stuff greater than softball. I saw all the things they did to build a well-rounded person including academics, family emphasis, community and how softball is part of your life, but not all there is.

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