Oregon Softball Shows Growth in Week Two, But Power Outage Still a Concern
The Oregon Ducks are still in the early stages of figuring out who they are this season, but if Week 2 was any indication, they’re starting to find their footing. After a rough opening weekend, the Ducks bounced back with three wins at the Cardinal Classic, taking down Cal State Fullerton twice and Kentucky once.
Their only loss came against No. 12 Stanford - a tough opponent and a good measuring stick for where this team stands.
There’s still plenty of work to be done, especially when it comes to competing with ranked teams. Oregon is now 0-3 against Top 25 opponents, and the road ahead doesn’t get any easier.
Next up: a trio of ranked matchups at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, where they’ll face No. 8 Texas A&M, No.
19 Duke, and No. 20 South Carolina.
But before we look ahead, let’s break down three key takeaways from a much-improved second weekend.
1. Shaw and Jones Are Making Noise at the Top
Coming into the season, not many would’ve guessed that Ayanna Shaw and Kaylynn Jones would be the ones setting the tone offensively. But here we are.
Through two weekends, they’ve been on-base machines - both reaching in at least half of their plate appearances. They’ve combined to hit .474 on the year so far, and that number shot up to .600 during the Cardinal Classic.
That’s not just production - that’s momentum.
Shaw started the season at the bottom of the lineup but quickly earned a move to the leadoff spot by the end of Week 1. At the Cardinal Classic, head coach Melyssa Lombardi made another adjustment, shifting Shaw to the middle of the order and letting Jones take the top spot. It’s a move that’s paid off, giving Oregon a dynamic one-two punch that can get on base and make things happen with their speed.
Replacing someone like Kai Luschar - who led the nation in steals and hit .415 last season - was never going to be a one-for-one swap. But Shaw and Jones are doing their part to keep the offense moving.
“We're definitely powerful through the lineup,” Lombardi said. “But then if we need to do situational hitting, we know how to do that as well.”
The Ducks aren’t just swinging for the fences - they’re finding ways to manufacture runs, and Shaw and Jones are leading that charge.
2. Transfer Talent Is Already Paying Dividends
Oregon came into the season with high expectations, and a big reason why was the combination of returning stars and high-impact transfers. The Ducks brought back six starters and their top two pitchers - but the new faces have been just as important early on.
Shortstop Addison Amaral, utility player Amari Harper, and outfielder Elon Butler all arrived in Eugene with proven track records, and they’re already showing why Oregon’s transfer class was ranked No. 2 in the country by Softball America.
In 115 combined plate appearances, the trio is slashing .292/.374/.542 - and they’re not just putting up numbers, they’re delivering in big spots. Amaral is one of four Ducks hitting over .300, but last weekend it was Harper and Butler who really stepped up. The duo combined for a 1.142 OPS at the Cardinal Classic, building on an already strong showing from the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
Butler, in particular, has been locked in.
“She’s just getting her swing off every time,” Lombardi said. “She’s such a calculated hitter at the plate, and she just makes it look easy. I love what she’s doing right now.”
It’s early, but the transfers are fitting in seamlessly - both at the plate and in the clubhouse. Amaral summed it up best: “I absolutely love this team, they’re everything to me. Transferring here, they’ve been such a family.”
3. Where’s the Power?
Let’s address the elephant in the dugout - the Ducks’ power game hasn’t shown up yet.
This was supposed to be one of the most dangerous lineups in the country, and for good reason. Oregon finished 11th nationally in home runs last year, then added even more pop through the transfer portal.
But so far, the long ball has been missing. The Ducks have just six home runs through two weekends, which puts them outside the top 100 in the country.
That’s a steep drop from last season, when they slugged .574 as a team. Right now, they’re sitting at .452 - more than 100 points lower.
Butler, Harper, and catcher Emma Cox have accounted for five of those six homers. The real issue? The returning sluggers who were expected to anchor the lineup haven’t found their rhythm.
Rylee McCoy, Stefini Ma’ake, and Katie Flannery were the power core last season, combining for 44 home runs - more than 73% of Oregon’s total returning production. But they’ve struggled mightily out of the gate. In 85 combined plate appearances, the trio is slashing just .150/.294/.211 with only two extra-base hits: a double from Flannery and a grand slam from Ma’ake.
McCoy’s slow start has been especially tough. A preseason All-American and one of the top first basemen in the country, she was expected to be the centerpiece of this offense. Instead, she has just one hit in 20 at-bats and was taken out of the starting lineup for the final game against Stanford.
It’s still early, and there’s plenty of time for Oregon’s big bats to get going. But if the Ducks want to make a serious postseason run, they’ll need their power hitters to start driving the ball the way they did last year.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt Oregon showed real improvement in Week 2. The lineup is starting to click in new ways, the transfers are making a big impact, and the team is finding ways to win. But the Ducks are still looking for that extra gear - especially in the power department.
With a brutal stretch of ranked opponents coming up at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, we’re about to find out a lot more about this team. If the bats wake up and the top of the lineup keeps setting the table, Oregon could be a serious threat. But for now, the Ducks are still a work in progress - a talented team trying to rediscover its identity and unleash its full potential.