Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Ducks to Open 2026 Season at NFCA Leadoff Classic
09/18/25 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Defending Big Ten champion Oregon will begin the 2026 with five games against top competition at the NFCA DI Leadoff Classic Feb. 6-8 in Clearwater, Fla.
One of featured games for Oregon will be a rematch with Tennessee. The Ducks edged the Lady Vols, 1-0, in eight innings at the 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Both teams advanced to the Women's College World Series a year ago.
Oregon will also square off against Liberty, the team the Ducks defeated in the 2025 Eugene Super Regional to advance to the WCWS for the first time in seven years.
The Ducks will open the Leadoff Classic with a doubleheader against Missouri and Clemson on Feb. 6. Oregon's games with Liberty and Tennessee are the next day. The Ducks close out the tournament with a single game versus Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 8.
Four of the five teams Oregon will play in Clearwater made the 2025 NCAA Tournament – Clemson, Liberty, Tennessee and Southeastern Louisiana. The Ducks last played in the Leadoff Classic in 2024.
Big Ten head coach of the year Melyssa Lombardi is entering her eighth season at Oregon.
The 2026 squad features returning All-Americans Lyndsey Grein (RHP) and Rylee McCoy (1B), as well as all-Big Ten performers Elise Sokolsky (RHP) and Kaylynn Jones (2B) and Stefini Ma'ake (DP/UTIL).
The Ducks also return Emma Cox and Braiesey Rosa, who split time at catcher last season, as well as Katie Flannery, a 62-game starter at third base, and Ayanna Shaw, who made 21 starts in the outfield.
They will be joined by the nation's No. 2 transfer class according to Softball America, Addison Amaral (Notre Dame), Elon Butler (California) and Amari Harper (Texas A&M). Also new to the team are freshmen Taryn Ho (Honolulu, Hawaii), Maddie Milhorn (Vancouver, Wash.) and Amanda Urbina (Whittier, Calif.).
Oregon went 54-10 a year ago and won the Big Ten with a 19-3 mark. The Ducks defeated Stanford in come-from-behind, walk-off fashion to win the NCAA Eugene Regional before sweeping Liberty in the Eugene Super Regional.
2026 NFCA DI LEADOFF CLASSIC SCHEDULE
(Eddie C. Moore Complex, Clearwater, Fla.)
Date Day Time (PT) Opponent
Feb. 6 Fri. 10:00 a.m. Missouri
1:00 p.m. Clemson
Feb. 7 Sat. 1:00 p.m. Liberty
4:00 p.m. Tennessee
Feb. 8 Sun. 7:00 a.m. Southeastern Louisiana
- www.GoDucks.com -
One of featured games for Oregon will be a rematch with Tennessee. The Ducks edged the Lady Vols, 1-0, in eight innings at the 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Both teams advanced to the Women's College World Series a year ago.
Oregon will also square off against Liberty, the team the Ducks defeated in the 2025 Eugene Super Regional to advance to the WCWS for the first time in seven years.
The Ducks will open the Leadoff Classic with a doubleheader against Missouri and Clemson on Feb. 6. Oregon's games with Liberty and Tennessee are the next day. The Ducks close out the tournament with a single game versus Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 8.
Four of the five teams Oregon will play in Clearwater made the 2025 NCAA Tournament – Clemson, Liberty, Tennessee and Southeastern Louisiana. The Ducks last played in the Leadoff Classic in 2024.
Big Ten head coach of the year Melyssa Lombardi is entering her eighth season at Oregon.
The 2026 squad features returning All-Americans Lyndsey Grein (RHP) and Rylee McCoy (1B), as well as all-Big Ten performers Elise Sokolsky (RHP) and Kaylynn Jones (2B) and Stefini Ma'ake (DP/UTIL).
The Ducks also return Emma Cox and Braiesey Rosa, who split time at catcher last season, as well as Katie Flannery, a 62-game starter at third base, and Ayanna Shaw, who made 21 starts in the outfield.
They will be joined by the nation's No. 2 transfer class according to Softball America, Addison Amaral (Notre Dame), Elon Butler (California) and Amari Harper (Texas A&M). Also new to the team are freshmen Taryn Ho (Honolulu, Hawaii), Maddie Milhorn (Vancouver, Wash.) and Amanda Urbina (Whittier, Calif.).
Oregon went 54-10 a year ago and won the Big Ten with a 19-3 mark. The Ducks defeated Stanford in come-from-behind, walk-off fashion to win the NCAA Eugene Regional before sweeping Liberty in the Eugene Super Regional.
2026 NFCA DI LEADOFF CLASSIC SCHEDULE
(Eddie C. Moore Complex, Clearwater, Fla.)
Date Day Time (PT) Opponent
Feb. 6 Fri. 10:00 a.m. Missouri
1:00 p.m. Clemson
Feb. 7 Sat. 1:00 p.m. Liberty
4:00 p.m. Tennessee
Feb. 8 Sun. 7:00 a.m. Southeastern Louisiana
- www.GoDucks.com -
Players Mentioned
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