Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Ducks to Open 2026 Season at NFCA Leadoff Classic
09/18/25 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Defending Big Ten champion Oregon will begin the 2026 with five games against top competition at the NFCA DI Leadoff Classic Feb. 6-8 in Clearwater, Fla.
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One of featured games for Oregon will be a rematch with Tennessee. The Ducks edged the Lady Vols, 1-0, in eight innings at the 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Both teams advanced to the Women's College World Series a year ago.
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Oregon will also square off against Liberty, the team the Ducks defeated in the 2025 Eugene Super Regional to advance to the WCWS for the first time in seven years.
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The Ducks will open the Leadoff Classic with a doubleheader against Missouri and Clemson on Feb. 6. Oregon's games with Liberty and Tennessee are the next day. The Ducks close out the tournament with a single game versus Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 8.
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Four of the five teams Oregon will play in Clearwater made the 2025 NCAA Tournament – Clemson, Liberty, Tennessee and Southeastern Louisiana. The Ducks last played in the Leadoff Classic in 2024.
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Big Ten head coach of the year Melyssa Lombardi is entering her eighth season at Oregon.
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The 2026 squad features returning All-Americans Lyndsey Grein (RHP) and Rylee McCoy (1B), as well as all-Big Ten performers Elise Sokolsky (RHP) and Kaylynn Jones (2B) and Stefini Ma'ake (DP/UTIL).
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The Ducks also return Emma Cox and Braiesey Rosa, who split time at catcher last season, as well as Katie Flannery, a 62-game starter at third base, and Ayanna Shaw, who made 21 starts in the outfield.
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They will be joined by the nation's No. 2 transfer class according to Softball America, Addison Amaral (Notre Dame), Elon Butler (California) and Amari Harper (Texas A&M). Also new to the team are freshmen Taryn Ho (Honolulu, Hawaii), Maddie Milhorn (Vancouver, Wash.) and Amanda Urbina (Whittier, Calif.).
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Oregon went 54-10 a year ago and won the Big Ten with a 19-3 mark. The Ducks defeated Stanford in come-from-behind, walk-off fashion to win the NCAA Eugene Regional before sweeping Liberty in the Eugene Super Regional.
2026 NFCA DI LEADOFF CLASSIC SCHEDULE
(Eddie C. Moore Complex, Clearwater, Fla.)
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Date                Day     Time (PT)     Opponent
Feb. 6              Fri.       10:00 a.m.        Missouri
                      1:00 p.m.     Clemson
Feb. 7              Sat.    1:00 p.m.          Liberty
                                       4:00 p.m.     Tennessee
Feb. 8              Sun.    7:00 a.m.     Southeastern Louisiana
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- www.GoDucks.com -
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One of featured games for Oregon will be a rematch with Tennessee. The Ducks edged the Lady Vols, 1-0, in eight innings at the 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Both teams advanced to the Women's College World Series a year ago.
Â
Oregon will also square off against Liberty, the team the Ducks defeated in the 2025 Eugene Super Regional to advance to the WCWS for the first time in seven years.
Â
The Ducks will open the Leadoff Classic with a doubleheader against Missouri and Clemson on Feb. 6. Oregon's games with Liberty and Tennessee are the next day. The Ducks close out the tournament with a single game versus Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 8.
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Four of the five teams Oregon will play in Clearwater made the 2025 NCAA Tournament – Clemson, Liberty, Tennessee and Southeastern Louisiana. The Ducks last played in the Leadoff Classic in 2024.
Â
Big Ten head coach of the year Melyssa Lombardi is entering her eighth season at Oregon.
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The 2026 squad features returning All-Americans Lyndsey Grein (RHP) and Rylee McCoy (1B), as well as all-Big Ten performers Elise Sokolsky (RHP) and Kaylynn Jones (2B) and Stefini Ma'ake (DP/UTIL).
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The Ducks also return Emma Cox and Braiesey Rosa, who split time at catcher last season, as well as Katie Flannery, a 62-game starter at third base, and Ayanna Shaw, who made 21 starts in the outfield.
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They will be joined by the nation's No. 2 transfer class according to Softball America, Addison Amaral (Notre Dame), Elon Butler (California) and Amari Harper (Texas A&M). Also new to the team are freshmen Taryn Ho (Honolulu, Hawaii), Maddie Milhorn (Vancouver, Wash.) and Amanda Urbina (Whittier, Calif.).
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Oregon went 54-10 a year ago and won the Big Ten with a 19-3 mark. The Ducks defeated Stanford in come-from-behind, walk-off fashion to win the NCAA Eugene Regional before sweeping Liberty in the Eugene Super Regional.
2026 NFCA DI LEADOFF CLASSIC SCHEDULE
(Eddie C. Moore Complex, Clearwater, Fla.)
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Date                Day     Time (PT)     Opponent
Feb. 6              Fri.       10:00 a.m.        Missouri
                      1:00 p.m.     Clemson
Feb. 7              Sat.    1:00 p.m.          Liberty
                                       4:00 p.m.     Tennessee
Feb. 8              Sun.    7:00 a.m.     Southeastern Louisiana
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- www.GoDucks.com -
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Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballMelyssa Lombardi | Postgame - Penn State (Game 3)
Monday, March 16
Stefini Ma'ake | Postgame - Penn State (Game 3)
Monday, March 16
Emma Cox | Postgame - Penn State (Game 3)
Monday, March 16
Maddie Milhorn | Postgame - Penn State (Game 2)
Sunday, March 15
