Oregon Softball: Ducks Open 2017 With Kajikawa Classic

Oregon Softball begins the 2017 season on Thursday with new faces and the top recruiting class.

When you look up and down the lineup from last season there was familiarity. Names like Cheridan Hawkins and Janelle Lindvall who had been with the program for what seemed like forever. Now, both have graduated. Megan Kleist leads from the mound after a solid Freshman campaign that saw Oregon win a fourth straight Pac-12 title . The team fell short of their ultimate goal falling to UCLA in the end.

The Oregon Ducks Softball Team opens 2017 ranked in the Top ten at number 9. Mike White will get a chance to see the top recruiting class in the country. Freshman Catcher Mary Iakopu will take over at the plate. Jenna Lilley returns with experience at third base. The Ducks are at a familiar spot to open the season, the Kajikawa Classic.

Oregon takes on Virginia and Creighton on Thursday. The Cavaliers were 18-33 last season averaging .262 with their bats as a team. Creighton was better at 25-22. The first few games will allow the Ducks to stretch their legs a bit. The lineup for Oregon will have a new look.

Pitchers Miranda Elish and Maggie Balint join Kleist from the mound. In the field Freshman Haley Cruse joins Sammy Puentes along with Cherish Burks. Lilley will anchor the infield.

Next: Dougherty Leaves Oregon For UCLA

The Oregon Ducks take on Virginia at 2pm Pacific Time. Creighton meets the Ducks at 4:45pm Thursday in the Kajikawa Classic.