Gray Robertson of Softball America ranks the Top 25 in the country for 2026, and Oregon softball's Version 8 hits the poll at No. 4.
Robertson likes the blend of pitching, returning talent and key transfers Melyssa Lombardi will bring to Jane Sanders Stadium next season. This year the Ducks won the Big Ten Championship in their first season in the league, won the Eugene Regional and Super Regional with stirring comebacks, and made the Final Six at the College Softball World Series in Oklahoma City.
Robertson writes, "The top two arms return in Lyndsey Grein and Elise Sokolsky, which is a fantastic start. Grein showed great grittiness down the stretch last season, and Sokolsky was strong when the Oregon ace had a small blip of a struggle in May. What excites me most about Oregon is the offense and all the talent coming in."
Defending champion Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech rank ahead of Oregon, while the other Big Ten teams to make the poll were No. 11 Nebraska, No. 15 UCLA, No. 19 Washington. Southern squads from the SEC and ACC dominate the first softball power poll.
Twin aces Lyndsey Grein and Elise Sokolsky return for the Ducks, who combined to go 47-8 in the circle last year, each posting an ERA just above 2.00. Grein struck out 236 in 190.1 innings, while Sokolsky surged at the end of the year, ringing up 136 batters in 151 innings, walking just 42.
Elise Sokolsky closes out the third with a strikeout.
— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) May 4, 2025
M3 | MSU 3, Ducks 0#GoDucks | #Version7 pic.twitter.com/QKI9n55JF4
The defense remains strong with Jones and Big Ten All-Freshman team selection Rylee McCoy back at second and first. McCoy tied Oregon's all-time single-season record with 19 home runs and drove in 59. Katie Flannery returns to anchor the hot corner, and Braiesey Rosa and Emma Cox give the Ducks depth at catcher.
From the Transfer Portal the Ducks brought in clutch-hitting shortstop Addison Amaral from Notre Dame, the Irish leader in runs, hits, RBI, home runs and batting average last season, a .365 hitter.
Elon Butler joins the team from Cal, where she hit 37 home runs and drove in 112 in three seasons. Amari Harper clubbed 18 home runs at Texas A&M a year ago, an All-SEC selection with 51 RBI. Harper played right field, first base and second base for the Aggies.
The Ducks will have pitching, power and punch as they begin defense of their conference title and take aim at a return trip to the CSWS.