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Oregon Softball: Ducks Continue To Move Up In Rankings

By Justin Phillips

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 29: An NCAA softball amid a collection of softball bats during a game between Notre Dame and Duke at Duke Softball Stadium on February 29, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 29: An NCAA softball amid a collection of softball bats during a game between Notre Dame and Duke at Duke Softball Stadium on February 29, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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The pandemic has not gotten in the way of Oregon Softball. Oregon has one loss so far this season to go with 20 wins and is now ranked 3rd in the country.

One of the big reasons for Oregon’s success is Haley Cruse. She sits alone this season as the lone player hitting over .400 with a .700 slugging percentage. She also has 13 stolen bases to her credit. The team swept Utah last weekend in a four-game series and showed some grit during the series.  The Ducks have a luxury this season in that they can start any of five players in the circle.

Pitcher Brooke Yanez is the early season workhorse and has 91 strikeouts. She is 9-0 on the season with a 1.49 Earned Run Average. She has given up just 15 runs and is holding opponents to batting .172.

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Oregon has a team ERA of 1.75. So far their opponents this season are not doing so well against the Ducks batting barrage with an ERA over 7. Cruse is a big reason why. In most games, she has been hitting leadoff and sets the table early and often. Cruse has 3 runs off 27 hits to go with 9 doubles this season, putting herself in scoring position and causing headaches for the opposition.

The Ducks have six batters hitting better than .350 so far this season. Mya Felder leads the team with 15 walks. Freshman Alyssa Brito has 15 strikeouts but has made up for some young inexperience by hitting over .400 and leading the team with 8 home runs.

Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi has found a balance between pitching and hitting and has been able to do a lot with young players and find ways to get past their inexperience. Brito is the perfect example. Having an experienced player on and off the field with Haley Cruse is a big key for the Ducks’ success this season. Cruse stuck it out with the Ducks when there was a coaching staff change. Oregon at the time was on the cusp of a possible series of runs toward a National Championship.

It appears with Lombardi, the team has not missed much of a beat and Oregon Softball is in the hunt again for a trip to the postseason. The Ducks are taking a break from conference play and will host Loyola Marymount this weekend in a three-game series. The first game is set for 1 pm PT on Friday with games 2 and 3 set for 3:30 pm PT Friday and noon on Saturday.