Reinforcements Will Be On Display In Sunday Softball Exhibition

Indefatigable Oregon left-handed pitcher Jordan Dail was recovering from last season's ironwoman effort in the circle when she got word the Ducks were looking to add a couple of transfers, to join her and an incoming freshman on the pitching staff for 2020.

Did Dail feel threatened? Far from it.

"I was like, 'Go for it!' " Dail said. "I don't care if you bring in six more. Just, help!"

Second-year UO coach Melyssa Lombardi did indeed add some support for Dail, who was in the circle for nearly three-quarters of Oregon's 332 1/3 innings pitched in 2019. She will make her return to the Jane Sanders Stadium circle Sunday, when the Ducks host a 10-inning scrimmage against College of the Siskiyous.

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That will be the first glimpse for Oregon fans at the 2020 version of the Ducks, who are looking to build on a debut season under Lombardi that saw them defy expectations and remain in the hunt for a postseason berth right down to the final few weekends of the regular season.

"It's so early," said Lombardi, whose team began fall practices Monday. "But I think just getting them out there and allowing them the opportunity to play with each other, and to get a taste, get a look at what this team is going to look like will be pretty exciting."

What the 2020 Ducks figure to look like is a much deeper, more experienced and even more versatile version of the 2019 squad. Outfielder Haley Cruse and utility player Shaye Bowden will be lynch pins in the lineup as upperclassmen. But they won't be the only veteran presence in the field after infielders Rachel Cid, Jasmine Sievers and Allee Bunker were thrown into the deep end of the Pac-12 pool as freshman last spring, and learned to swim just fine.

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"It was a learning experience, the whole year," said Cruse, a .348 hitter to lead the Ducks as a junior. "A lot of people stepped into leadership roles. And that's really helped us so far this year, because we do have a pretty young squad. The fact that some of these sophomores are able to be leaders and feel like they're leaders on this team is really helpful."

Whereas last season's team needed to put out an open call for depth players, the 2020 Oregon softball team — knock on wood — faces no such deficiency. Transfers Terra McGowan, Maddie Hopper and Mya Felder are eligible as position players in the spring, and the freshman class includes a power bat in Ariel Carlson, and an athletic outfielder in Deijah Pangilinan.

Hannah Galey and Lexi Wagner also are back as sophomores, and freshmen Jazzy Contreras and Vallery Wong provide even more versatility.

"I feel good about our lineup and the depth," Lombardi said. "If I need to go to my (lineup) card — last year I didn't get to go to my card much. This year, having the opportunity to go to my card for different situations and to bring a hitter off the bench is something that I'm looking forward to."

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And then there's Dail and the pitching staff. The Ducks have added freshman right-hander Makenna Kliethermes, as well as two transfers — senior righty Samaria Diaz and junior lefty Brooke Yanez.

Lombardi has the freedom to aggressively manage the staff, employing not only a closer but middle relief help as a bridge from the starter to the back end of the bullpen.

That's music to Dail's ears. She said she never felt at full strength once the Ducks hit the heart of the 2019 season, and that the mental strain of carrying the load for the pitching staff got to her down the stretch.

Like a lot of fresh-faced young players, Dail eagerly accepted the chance to be Oregon's workhorse in 2019. She handled it admirably, but also came away from the season with newfound respect for the value of a deep staff.

"I told all these girls as soon as they committed and transferred here, 'Look, I'm going to be your best friend — whether you like it or not,' " Dail said. "Because I didn't have you last year. I want what's best for the team. If that's me throwing another 200-and-whatever innings next year, that's fine. If it's me throwing 10, that's fine. I want this team to win. And if this team's successful, I think we're all successful."