Oregon Softball: Miranda Elish, Lauren Burke Intend To Transfer For 2019 Season

Softball Players Lauren Burke and Miranda Elish have filed an ‘intent to transfer’ with the University of Oregon.

New NCAA rules went into effect earlier this week and it has to do with Transfer rules. Two Oregon Softball players that have played key roles in the Ducks success over the last two seasons have decided to play elsewhere and not for Head Coach Missy Lombardi. It is not known why they are leaving Oregon Softball, but I have a feeling we will know in the coming months.

Softball is a sport that is not governed by the NCAA as harshly as other sports like Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Football that require you to sit out a season in most cases.

With Softball, you are free to have a one-time transfer, of course, there are some stipulations, but it is permitted to play elsewhere and be fully eligible without missing time. (I expect that Elish and Burke may have the idea to follow their former Head Coach to Texas.)

Elish could also feel a family connection and head to Arizona where her sister is set to play in a few seasons.

The loss of Elish and Burke will hurt this upcoming season in Eugene. Burke was just getting started and being a Eugene native she had a big impact on the field. She finished the 2018 season batting .351 and had key home runs in the Ducks postseason in their run at home that took them to Oklahoma City. Elish threw one of the best seasons ever in an Oregon Uniform going 25-2.

Of course, the University of Oregon can deny the one-time transfer. The Ducks have removed both players from their roster and will look to fill a key void at pitcher. The Ducks enter 2019 with two Senior Pitchers in Maggie Balint and Megan Kleist.

Both players may have options, but if they decide to take their talent to a school in the Pac-12, they will have to sit out a season.