Oregon Softball: Ducks Open Season vs Georgia In Kajikawa Classic
The Oregon Softball Ducks bring a top scoring Offense from a year ago into the Kajikawa Classic vs the top Offense in the SEC last season in Georgia.
It is had to believe but the Oregon Softball season begins on Thursday with what is becoming a ritual for the Ducks and Head Coach Mike White. Oregon enters the season ranked third in the National Polls and was picked to finish first in the Pac-12 Conference this season ahead of UCLA.
With Star Hitter Nikki Udria graduated, Oregon still returns a key nucleus for their infield with Gwen Svekis and Jenna Lilley at Catcher and Third Base respectively. Svekis is slated to begin the season in the cleanup spot and Alexis Mack, who led Oregon in batting average hitting .424 returns to the top of the lineup.
Oregon faces 25th ranked Georgia to open their season at the Kajikawa Classic. The Bulldogs will play San Diego State before facing Oregon on Thursday. Georgia brings the top scoring Offense in the SEC from last year. Bulldogs Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer has led Georgia for 18 seasons an knows how to win. He also knows that trying to catch Oregon off guard early in the season may be a big key.
Cortni Emanuel is the Georgia Player to Watch. She has experience and speed batting .426 last season which was second on the team.
For the Oregon Ducks, the circle was dominated last season my Megan Kleist who returns. She had 9 shutouts and was among the most dominating pitchers in the Pac-12 helping the Ducks to the Women’s College World Series Semi-Finals. The Ducks had just a handful of games last season with giving up three or more runs.
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The Oregon Ducks and Georgia Bulldogs have a first pitch set for 4 pm Pacific Time in the Kajikawa Classic. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Network.