By: David Miller
The University of Oregon Ducks are set to take on the Corban University Warriors in their first game of the 2024 season on Sunday afternoon.
In their first friendly match of the 2023 fall season, the Ducks will test the strength of their roster when they take on the Corban Warriors. After losing leaders like Allee Bunker and Terra McGowan the Ducks are looking for who will take their role as the vocal leaders of the team.
The Ducks look to build on the momentum from last year, despite having numerous new faces on the team. Coach Melissa Lombardi spoke on moving forward. “The only way to can get better is with experience,” she added, “it’s on all of us to show them was Oregon softball looks like.”
The team is still ripe with seasoned talent at all positions. 14 of 23 Oregon players are upperclassmen, 4 of which are 5th year students.
For offensive output, the team will look to fifth-year outfielder Ariel Carlson who finished her 2023 season with 9 homers. That accompanied by a slugging percentage of .604 makes her the most offensively productive Duck to return for 2024.
In the pitcher’s circle, junior Stevie Hansen will look to expand upon her already impressive collegiate resume. Hansen ended her 2023 season tallying 20 wins and a 2.63 earned run average. The Ducks have added talent to their bullpen by way of freshman Taylor Spencer.
The Warriors will visit Jane Sanders Stadium to start their fall 2023 campaign. After a rocky 10-34 record in 2023 the Warriors look take show major strides in their program. The NAIA school is coached by Danyelle Huber, who is in her third year as head coach.
In the 2023 season, graduate student Madison Wyllie (32) and junior Paia’ala Wilcox-Molina (27) led the Warriors offensively. After losing Wyllie to graduation the Warriors will be looking for Wilcox-Molina along with their young talent to take big steps this year.
The Ducks had a great season in 2023 where they went 38-17 and managed to a Super Regional birth after sweeping through the Fayetteville Regional. Highlight wins such as their 14-4 beatdown of the Arkansas Razorbacks sent the Ducks to Stillwater, Oklahoma.
In the Stillwater Super Regional series, the Duck came up short in a two game sweep courtesy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
A lack of offensive production against Oklahoma State led to last season’s abrupt ending. Look for the Ducks to have a high offensive output when they take on the Corbin Warriors Sunday 2:30 p.m. at Jane Sanders Stadium.