Photo by: Samuel Marshall
Looking Back at Year One of the Lombardi Era
06/18/19 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. - The 2019 season was marked by transition and adversity for the Oregon softball team in the first year of the Melyssa Lombardi era. Playing with a shorthanded roster that featured 10 freshmen and just three competing upperclassmen, Lombardi's squad battled through injuries and outside expectations while developing an exciting young core of talent and proving to the nation that Ducks never quit.
"This team will always be known for its fight, and their willingness to put the team before themselves," Lombardi said. "… I just can't say enough about this team and how proud I am of them, and all they've accomplished. Because I don't know another team that could fight through all of this."
SEASON AT A GLANCE
The Ducks (22-30, 5-19 Pac-12) got the new era off to a strong start despite a flurry of offseason changes, going 5-0 at the Kajikawa Classic. Oregon put the nation on notice with a thrilling 8-5 win over No. 8 LSU to open the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational, where the Ducks went 2-2 with a win over Florida Atlantic behind a Jordan Dail no-hitter. UO improved to 11-4 with a 4-2 weekend at the Mary Nutter Classic, but then struggled through a 12-game losing streak that featured 11 games against top-25 teams. Dail threw her second no-hitter in a 5-0 win over Pacific to end the skid, and UO went 1-2 in a very competitive series at Stanford. The Ducks then went 3-1 while taking a break from conference play against Missouri and Pittsburgh, and then returned to Pac-12 action in a big way with a huge 4-3 upset win at No. 1 ranked and eventual national champion UCLA. Oregon was in position to make a run at a postseason berth after taking two of three from Cal and sweeping a doubleheader vs. Portland State, but depth and injury issues proved too much to overcome as the Ducks dropped eight of their final nine games.
SIX EARN ALL-PAC-12, ALL-REGION HONORS
The 2019 season saw an emergence of a talented young core for the Ducks, as six players set to return in 2020 played their way to all-Pac-12 or NFCA all-region honors. FR IF Jasmine Sievers led the way with an impressive haul of conference awards, being named first-team all-Pac-12 while also landing on the Pac-12 all-freshman and all-defensive teams. SO LHP Jordan Dail was a second-team all-Pac-12 selection after carrying the load for UO in the circle, and she was also a two-time Pac-12 pitcher of the week. JR OF Haley Cruse and FR IF Allee Bunker both landed on the all-Pac-12 third team and the Pacific North all-region second team, and Bunker also earned a spot on the Pac-12 all-freshman squad. FR IF Rachel Cid, a two-time Pac-12 freshman of the week, joined Sievers and Bunker with conference all-freshman honors, and SO C/UT Shaye Bowden was named third-team all-region.
DAIL IMPRESSES AS DUCKS' WORKHORSE
SO LHP Jordan Dail was an absolute workhorse in 2019 for the Ducks after transferring to Oregon from Virginia Tech. Dail (18-18, 4.12 ERA) led the Pac-12 and ranked fifth in the nation with a whopping 248.0 innings pitched while also leading the conference in appearances (45) and games started (39). The second-team all-Pac-12 selection was fourth in the Pac-12 and sixth in UO single-season history with 240 strikeouts, and her 60 batters struck out looking ranked second in the league. The Forest, Va., native threw 23 complete games and five shutouts, including no-hitters against Florida Atlantic (Feb. 16) and Pacific (March 27) to become just the fourth Duck ever to toss multiple seven-inning no-hitters in the same season. Dail was also a two-time Pac-12 pitcher of the week, earning the honor on April 8 after and April 22. The Ducks will look to build a staff around Dail in 2020 as she aims to build upon an impressive first season in Eugene.
DUCKS GRIND THROUGH LOADED SCHEDULE
The new-look Ducks played a loaded schedule in Melyssa Lombardi's first season, playing 18 games against teams ranked in the NFCA top 25 and ranking 22nd nationally in strength of schedule. Oregon played 35 games away from home, going 13-6 in neutral site games and pulling off upset wins over No. 8 LSU and No. 1 UCLA.
CRUSE SETS THE TABLE AS A JUNIOR
HC Melyssa Lombardi moved JR OF Haley Cruse back to the leadoff spot prior to the Stanford series (March 29-31), and the junior was terrific from there on out. Over her final 20 games, Cruse hit .406 with a .479 on-base percentage to finish the season leading the team with a .348 batting average. Cruse did a great job of setting the table all year with a team-high .465 OBP, good for No. 7 in the Pac-12, and she was tied for sixth in the conference with 31 walks. After leading the Pac-12 in hitting during conference play as a sophomore, Cruse batted .373 in league games in 2019 to rank second on the Ducks and 10th in the conference. The San Diego, Calif., native also wreaked havoc on the basepaths in 2019 with 13 stolen bases, seventh-most in the Pac-12. Cruse will return as a key team leader in 2020 as a senior.
DOUBLES MACHINE SIEVERS SHINES IN YEAR ONE
FR IF Jasmine Sievers was terrific for the Ducks in her rookie campaign, leading the team in slugging percentage (.545), OPS (.924), doubles (15) and extra-base hits (20). The first-team all-Pac-12 pick hit .326 to rank third on the squad, and she batted .333 with 10 doubles and two homers over her last 22 games, including a 4-for-4 games against national player of the year Rachel Garcia and eventual national champion UCLA on April 13. Sievers was tied for sixth in the Pac-12 with 15 doubles, the seventh-most in UO single-season history. Sievers also impressed at shortstop, making multiple highlight-reel plays, while landing on the Pac-12 all-defensive team. Sievers will compete for the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team this summer before returning to Eugene for her sophomore year.
BUNKER BRINGS STEADY PRESENCE TO LINEUP
FR IF Allee Bunker put together a great freshman year while holding down second base for the Ducks, shoring up the future of UO's middle infield along with Sievers. Bunker hit an impressive .347 as a rookie, just one point behind leader Haley Cruse (.348), and was Oregon's top hitter in Pac-12 play with a whopping .380 batting average, good for ninth in the league. The third-team all-Pac-12 and Pac-12 all-freshman selection was phenomenal over the last month-plus of the season, batting .425 with a .452 on-base percentage over Oregon's last 24 games. Bunker proved to be one of the toughest outs in the nation as a freshman, striking out just 10 times in a team-high 167 at-bats.
SUPER UTILITY BOWDEN LEADS DUCKS IN RBIs
SO UT Shaye Bowden was one of Oregon's most valuable players in 2019, producing from the middle of the order while also shining in a super utility role on defense. A third-team all-region pick, Bowden hit a solid .315 with seven home runs and 10 doubles while pacing the Ducks with 33 RBIs. The Phoeniz, Ariz., native hit .364 with four homers over the last 15 games, and she was the Pac-12 player of the week on Feb. 26 after hitting .412 with a home run, double and seven RBIs in six games at the Mary Nutter Classic. Defensively, Bowden led the Pac-12 with 14 runners caught stealing in 38 games at catcher, and she also spent seven games at first base, four at second base, four in right field and three at third base. Bowden's versatility will give the Ducks a flurry of different options as they build the 2020 roster.
CID PUTS POP, GLOVE ON DISPLAY AS A FRESHMAN
FR IF Rachel Cid was one of four Ducks to play all 52 games in 2019, and she gave UO fans a taste of what made her such a highly-touted recruit. Cid finished year one batting .260 with nine home runs, seven doubles and 31 RBIs, earning a spot on the Pac-12 all-freshman team. Cid's nine bombs are the most by a UO freshman since Janelle Lindvall had 13 in 2013, and she worked 27 walks to finish with a solid .381 on-base percentage. A two-time Pac-12 freshman of the week, Cid was terrific all year at third base, and she played a solid shortstop during the Utah series (May 3-5) while filling in for an injured Sievers.
UTECHT PROVIDES CLUTCH POWER, PATIENCE
SR C/1B April Utecht gave the Ducks a big power threat in the middle of their lineup in her final season in Eugene, and she showed a knack for coming through in the clutch. Utecht led Oregon with a career-high 10 home runs while batting .265, and four of her homers were go-ahead blasts against, in order, No. 8 LSU, No. 3 Florida, No. 7 Washington and No. 1 UCLA. Utecht's two-run blast at the eventual national champion Bruins gave UO the lead for good in a huge 4-3 upset win. The senior also showed great patience at the plate, ranking second in the Pac-12 with 36 walks, seventh-most in UO single-season history.
BURKS FINISHES CAREER STRONG
SR OF Cherish Burks made her Senior Day a memorable one on May 11 at JSS, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs in Oregon's season finale. Wrapping up a season marked by extensive roster turnover that saw freshmen and reserves thrust into leading roles, Burks tied her career high with three hits and drove in multiple runs in a Pac-12 game for the first time in her career. Burks finished her senior year batting .250 with four home runs, five doubles and 18 RBIs.
OREGON TAKES PATIENT PLATE APPROACH
The Ducks showed terrific patience at the plate in 2019, ranking fifth in the Pac-12 and 34th nationally with 195 walks drawn as a team. SR C/1B April Utecht was second in the pac-12 with a team-high 36 walks, JR OF Haley Cruse was tied for sixth with 31 and FR IF Rachel Cid ranked just outside the top 10 with 27 free passes. Oregon posted a .365 OBP as a team.
YOUNG DUCKS FLASH THE LEATHER
Oregon's defense, which was often comprised of mostly underclassmen, was very solid during the 2019 campaign. The Ducks ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in fielding percentage (.969), committing only 42 errors as a team. Oregon also leads the conference in runners caught stealing (17), led by SO UT Shaye Bowden's Pac-12-best 14 from behind the plate.
FRESHMEN SHOULDER HEAVY LOAD
The Ducks relied heavily on freshmen during Melyssa Lombardi's first season. IF Allee Bunker (2B) and IF Rachel Cid (3B) both started all 52 games for Oregon, IF Jasmine Sievers started 45 games at shortstop and FR OF Lexi Wagner and FR UT Hannah Galey made 43 and 39 starts, respectively. FR C Annalisa Williamson also started 19 games, and FR IF Katelyn Howard made seven starts.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020
Oregon will have a strong core coming back in 2020 in Cruse, Dail, Bowden, Bunker, Cid and Sievers, and highly touted catcher Terra McGowan will make her debut after redshirting 2019 following her transfer from Arizona State. The Ducks boast the nation's No. 11 ranked recruiting class, which features three top-35 signees in IF Ariel Carlson (No. 21), OF Deijah Pangilinan (No. 28) and RHP Makenna Kliethermes (No. 31), as well as a versatile utility player in Vallery Wong. Carlson (Oregon) and Kliethermes (Missouri) were the Gatorado players of the years in their respective states. The Ducks will look to the NCAA transfer portal to round out an already talented roster for Lombardi's second season at the helm.
"This team will always be known for its fight, and their willingness to put the team before themselves," Lombardi said. "… I just can't say enough about this team and how proud I am of them, and all they've accomplished. Because I don't know another team that could fight through all of this."
SEASON AT A GLANCE
The Ducks (22-30, 5-19 Pac-12) got the new era off to a strong start despite a flurry of offseason changes, going 5-0 at the Kajikawa Classic. Oregon put the nation on notice with a thrilling 8-5 win over No. 8 LSU to open the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational, where the Ducks went 2-2 with a win over Florida Atlantic behind a Jordan Dail no-hitter. UO improved to 11-4 with a 4-2 weekend at the Mary Nutter Classic, but then struggled through a 12-game losing streak that featured 11 games against top-25 teams. Dail threw her second no-hitter in a 5-0 win over Pacific to end the skid, and UO went 1-2 in a very competitive series at Stanford. The Ducks then went 3-1 while taking a break from conference play against Missouri and Pittsburgh, and then returned to Pac-12 action in a big way with a huge 4-3 upset win at No. 1 ranked and eventual national champion UCLA. Oregon was in position to make a run at a postseason berth after taking two of three from Cal and sweeping a doubleheader vs. Portland State, but depth and injury issues proved too much to overcome as the Ducks dropped eight of their final nine games.
SIX EARN ALL-PAC-12, ALL-REGION HONORS
The 2019 season saw an emergence of a talented young core for the Ducks, as six players set to return in 2020 played their way to all-Pac-12 or NFCA all-region honors. FR IF Jasmine Sievers led the way with an impressive haul of conference awards, being named first-team all-Pac-12 while also landing on the Pac-12 all-freshman and all-defensive teams. SO LHP Jordan Dail was a second-team all-Pac-12 selection after carrying the load for UO in the circle, and she was also a two-time Pac-12 pitcher of the week. JR OF Haley Cruse and FR IF Allee Bunker both landed on the all-Pac-12 third team and the Pacific North all-region second team, and Bunker also earned a spot on the Pac-12 all-freshman squad. FR IF Rachel Cid, a two-time Pac-12 freshman of the week, joined Sievers and Bunker with conference all-freshman honors, and SO C/UT Shaye Bowden was named third-team all-region.
DAIL IMPRESSES AS DUCKS' WORKHORSE
SO LHP Jordan Dail was an absolute workhorse in 2019 for the Ducks after transferring to Oregon from Virginia Tech. Dail (18-18, 4.12 ERA) led the Pac-12 and ranked fifth in the nation with a whopping 248.0 innings pitched while also leading the conference in appearances (45) and games started (39). The second-team all-Pac-12 selection was fourth in the Pac-12 and sixth in UO single-season history with 240 strikeouts, and her 60 batters struck out looking ranked second in the league. The Forest, Va., native threw 23 complete games and five shutouts, including no-hitters against Florida Atlantic (Feb. 16) and Pacific (March 27) to become just the fourth Duck ever to toss multiple seven-inning no-hitters in the same season. Dail was also a two-time Pac-12 pitcher of the week, earning the honor on April 8 after and April 22. The Ducks will look to build a staff around Dail in 2020 as she aims to build upon an impressive first season in Eugene.
DUCKS GRIND THROUGH LOADED SCHEDULE
The new-look Ducks played a loaded schedule in Melyssa Lombardi's first season, playing 18 games against teams ranked in the NFCA top 25 and ranking 22nd nationally in strength of schedule. Oregon played 35 games away from home, going 13-6 in neutral site games and pulling off upset wins over No. 8 LSU and No. 1 UCLA.
CRUSE SETS THE TABLE AS A JUNIOR
HC Melyssa Lombardi moved JR OF Haley Cruse back to the leadoff spot prior to the Stanford series (March 29-31), and the junior was terrific from there on out. Over her final 20 games, Cruse hit .406 with a .479 on-base percentage to finish the season leading the team with a .348 batting average. Cruse did a great job of setting the table all year with a team-high .465 OBP, good for No. 7 in the Pac-12, and she was tied for sixth in the conference with 31 walks. After leading the Pac-12 in hitting during conference play as a sophomore, Cruse batted .373 in league games in 2019 to rank second on the Ducks and 10th in the conference. The San Diego, Calif., native also wreaked havoc on the basepaths in 2019 with 13 stolen bases, seventh-most in the Pac-12. Cruse will return as a key team leader in 2020 as a senior.
DOUBLES MACHINE SIEVERS SHINES IN YEAR ONE
FR IF Jasmine Sievers was terrific for the Ducks in her rookie campaign, leading the team in slugging percentage (.545), OPS (.924), doubles (15) and extra-base hits (20). The first-team all-Pac-12 pick hit .326 to rank third on the squad, and she batted .333 with 10 doubles and two homers over her last 22 games, including a 4-for-4 games against national player of the year Rachel Garcia and eventual national champion UCLA on April 13. Sievers was tied for sixth in the Pac-12 with 15 doubles, the seventh-most in UO single-season history. Sievers also impressed at shortstop, making multiple highlight-reel plays, while landing on the Pac-12 all-defensive team. Sievers will compete for the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team this summer before returning to Eugene for her sophomore year.
BUNKER BRINGS STEADY PRESENCE TO LINEUP
FR IF Allee Bunker put together a great freshman year while holding down second base for the Ducks, shoring up the future of UO's middle infield along with Sievers. Bunker hit an impressive .347 as a rookie, just one point behind leader Haley Cruse (.348), and was Oregon's top hitter in Pac-12 play with a whopping .380 batting average, good for ninth in the league. The third-team all-Pac-12 and Pac-12 all-freshman selection was phenomenal over the last month-plus of the season, batting .425 with a .452 on-base percentage over Oregon's last 24 games. Bunker proved to be one of the toughest outs in the nation as a freshman, striking out just 10 times in a team-high 167 at-bats.
SUPER UTILITY BOWDEN LEADS DUCKS IN RBIs
SO UT Shaye Bowden was one of Oregon's most valuable players in 2019, producing from the middle of the order while also shining in a super utility role on defense. A third-team all-region pick, Bowden hit a solid .315 with seven home runs and 10 doubles while pacing the Ducks with 33 RBIs. The Phoeniz, Ariz., native hit .364 with four homers over the last 15 games, and she was the Pac-12 player of the week on Feb. 26 after hitting .412 with a home run, double and seven RBIs in six games at the Mary Nutter Classic. Defensively, Bowden led the Pac-12 with 14 runners caught stealing in 38 games at catcher, and she also spent seven games at first base, four at second base, four in right field and three at third base. Bowden's versatility will give the Ducks a flurry of different options as they build the 2020 roster.
CID PUTS POP, GLOVE ON DISPLAY AS A FRESHMAN
FR IF Rachel Cid was one of four Ducks to play all 52 games in 2019, and she gave UO fans a taste of what made her such a highly-touted recruit. Cid finished year one batting .260 with nine home runs, seven doubles and 31 RBIs, earning a spot on the Pac-12 all-freshman team. Cid's nine bombs are the most by a UO freshman since Janelle Lindvall had 13 in 2013, and she worked 27 walks to finish with a solid .381 on-base percentage. A two-time Pac-12 freshman of the week, Cid was terrific all year at third base, and she played a solid shortstop during the Utah series (May 3-5) while filling in for an injured Sievers.
UTECHT PROVIDES CLUTCH POWER, PATIENCE
SR C/1B April Utecht gave the Ducks a big power threat in the middle of their lineup in her final season in Eugene, and she showed a knack for coming through in the clutch. Utecht led Oregon with a career-high 10 home runs while batting .265, and four of her homers were go-ahead blasts against, in order, No. 8 LSU, No. 3 Florida, No. 7 Washington and No. 1 UCLA. Utecht's two-run blast at the eventual national champion Bruins gave UO the lead for good in a huge 4-3 upset win. The senior also showed great patience at the plate, ranking second in the Pac-12 with 36 walks, seventh-most in UO single-season history.
BURKS FINISHES CAREER STRONG
SR OF Cherish Burks made her Senior Day a memorable one on May 11 at JSS, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs in Oregon's season finale. Wrapping up a season marked by extensive roster turnover that saw freshmen and reserves thrust into leading roles, Burks tied her career high with three hits and drove in multiple runs in a Pac-12 game for the first time in her career. Burks finished her senior year batting .250 with four home runs, five doubles and 18 RBIs.
OREGON TAKES PATIENT PLATE APPROACH
The Ducks showed terrific patience at the plate in 2019, ranking fifth in the Pac-12 and 34th nationally with 195 walks drawn as a team. SR C/1B April Utecht was second in the pac-12 with a team-high 36 walks, JR OF Haley Cruse was tied for sixth with 31 and FR IF Rachel Cid ranked just outside the top 10 with 27 free passes. Oregon posted a .365 OBP as a team.
YOUNG DUCKS FLASH THE LEATHER
Oregon's defense, which was often comprised of mostly underclassmen, was very solid during the 2019 campaign. The Ducks ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in fielding percentage (.969), committing only 42 errors as a team. Oregon also leads the conference in runners caught stealing (17), led by SO UT Shaye Bowden's Pac-12-best 14 from behind the plate.
FRESHMEN SHOULDER HEAVY LOAD
The Ducks relied heavily on freshmen during Melyssa Lombardi's first season. IF Allee Bunker (2B) and IF Rachel Cid (3B) both started all 52 games for Oregon, IF Jasmine Sievers started 45 games at shortstop and FR OF Lexi Wagner and FR UT Hannah Galey made 43 and 39 starts, respectively. FR C Annalisa Williamson also started 19 games, and FR IF Katelyn Howard made seven starts.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020
Oregon will have a strong core coming back in 2020 in Cruse, Dail, Bowden, Bunker, Cid and Sievers, and highly touted catcher Terra McGowan will make her debut after redshirting 2019 following her transfer from Arizona State. The Ducks boast the nation's No. 11 ranked recruiting class, which features three top-35 signees in IF Ariel Carlson (No. 21), OF Deijah Pangilinan (No. 28) and RHP Makenna Kliethermes (No. 31), as well as a versatile utility player in Vallery Wong. Carlson (Oregon) and Kliethermes (Missouri) were the Gatorado players of the years in their respective states. The Ducks will look to the NCAA transfer portal to round out an already talented roster for Lombardi's second season at the helm.
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