Oregon Ducks News: Softball takes on Lions, Leadership emerges, Recruiting heats up, World Impact

Oregon Softball takes on Lions at the Jane

Melyssa Lombardi's diamond nine meets Loyola Marymount of the WCC today at noon PDT at Jane Sanders Stadium.

The visitors are 16-20 this season but coming off a two-game weekend sweep of Oregon State in Corvallis. They've played a national schedule that's included Oklahoma, Texas A&M and UCLA.

The Oregon women have been dominant this year, 35-3 and winners of their last 9 in a row, in a three-way for first place in the Big Ten at 9-1 with the Bruins and Northwestern. Outfielder Kedre Luschar and first baseman Rylee McCoy lead the Ducks in batting average at .471 and .446, while designated hitter Stefini Ma'ake has mashed 13 homers with 46 RBIs.

Over the weekend, the Ducks swept the Michigan Wolverines at Jane Sanders Stadium, taking a Saturday doubleheader 5-4 and 9-1.

Searching for voices: Identifying leadership at Oregon Football Spring Practice

In his regular Sunday column "Sunday Morning Sidewalk" Scott Reed of Duck Sports Authority talks about new leadership emerging on the Oregon offense.

"“We’re not returning a ton of experience. We’re returning some really talented players. So it’s about those guys stepping up, creating leadership, creating standards for our team.”"

Dan Lanning

Reed writes, "After sending off a wave of vocal and battle-tested veterans to the NFL, Oregon finds itself in the middle of a leadership reset." Players like center Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu and senior linebacker Bryce Boettcher are stepping up to fill the void.

Oregon Football Recruiting heats up

Fighting back from a recent surge by USC, weekend visitors to Eugene included blue-chip commits Mater Dei tackle Kodi Greene and running back Tradarian Ball of Texasplus five-star tackle Immanuel Iheanancho of Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda, Maryland.

New Duck tackle Isaiah World tabbed for big impact

Patrick Conn of the "For the Win" website names ten players from football transfer portal that could have a big role in the 2025 college football playoff race, and he includes new Oregon Duck at left tackle Isaiah World, a 6-8, 309 transfer from Nevada.

World gave up zero sacks last season for the Wolfpack.

"World figures to be a major contributor. He will be tasked with protecting Moore's blindside in 2025 and giving him time to find Evan Stewart and others."

Patrick Conn

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