Photo by: Samuel Marshall
Ducks Ranked Ninth in Final NFCA Poll
04/07/20 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon finished the shortened season ranked ninth in the final NFCA/USA Today Coaches' Poll, the organization announced Tuesday. The Ducks went 22-2, highlighted by a 16-game winning streak to start the season – which was the second-longest streak to begin a year in school history.
This is the eighth time in the last nine years that Oregon has ended a season in the top 10 of the final NFCA Coaches' Poll and the 10th time in the last 11 seasons the Ducks have been ranked at the end of the year. They have also finished as a ranked team 16 times in the 26 years of the poll's existence dating back to 1995. Oregon also checked in at No. 8 in the final ESPN/USA Softball Poll, which was also released Tuesday.
The Ducks improved drastically in every facet in year two under head coach Melyssa Lombardi, finishing as the only team nationally to rank in the top 15 in the country in batting average (8th), ERA (11th) and fielding percentage (2nd). Additionally, Oregon ranked in the top 15 in the nation in six other major stat categories, including strikeout-to-walk ratio (4th), runs allowed per game (4th), runs scored per game (9th), fewest total runs allowed (10th), strikeouts (11th) and on-base percentage (12th).
Another key part of Oregon's success was getting off to fast starts, outscoring opponents, 73-3, over the first two innings of games (29-1 in 1st, 44-2 in 2nd). Oregon pitching did not allow a single run in the first or second inning over the first 21 games of the season, while the Ducks led through two frames in 19 of the 24 games.
The Ducks got contributions from all over the place throughout the season offensively, with five players hitting over .350 and 10 different players hitting home runs. In the circle, Jordan Dail, Samaria Diaz and Brooke Yanez split the majority of the innings, with all three starting at least six games and picking up five wins.
SEASON NOTABLES
» Only team nationally to rank in the top 15 in batting average (8th - .350), ERA (11th – 1.62) and fielding percentage (2nd - .986)
» Outscored opponents 73-3 over the first two innings of games (29-1 in 1st, 44-2 in 2nd)
» Finished ranked in the top 15 nationally in nine different major stat categories
» 16-0 start to the season was the second-longest winning streak to begin a year in school history
» 22-2 record is the third-best through 24 games in program history
» Used 22 different lineup combinations and 17 different combinations defensively in the 24 games
» Five players hit over .350, 10 players hit home runs, 13 different position players earned a start
» Three different pitchers won at least five games, threw at least 40 innings and earned six starts
This is the eighth time in the last nine years that Oregon has ended a season in the top 10 of the final NFCA Coaches' Poll and the 10th time in the last 11 seasons the Ducks have been ranked at the end of the year. They have also finished as a ranked team 16 times in the 26 years of the poll's existence dating back to 1995. Oregon also checked in at No. 8 in the final ESPN/USA Softball Poll, which was also released Tuesday.
The Ducks improved drastically in every facet in year two under head coach Melyssa Lombardi, finishing as the only team nationally to rank in the top 15 in the country in batting average (8th), ERA (11th) and fielding percentage (2nd). Additionally, Oregon ranked in the top 15 in the nation in six other major stat categories, including strikeout-to-walk ratio (4th), runs allowed per game (4th), runs scored per game (9th), fewest total runs allowed (10th), strikeouts (11th) and on-base percentage (12th).
Another key part of Oregon's success was getting off to fast starts, outscoring opponents, 73-3, over the first two innings of games (29-1 in 1st, 44-2 in 2nd). Oregon pitching did not allow a single run in the first or second inning over the first 21 games of the season, while the Ducks led through two frames in 19 of the 24 games.
The Ducks got contributions from all over the place throughout the season offensively, with five players hitting over .350 and 10 different players hitting home runs. In the circle, Jordan Dail, Samaria Diaz and Brooke Yanez split the majority of the innings, with all three starting at least six games and picking up five wins.
SEASON NOTABLES
» Only team nationally to rank in the top 15 in batting average (8th - .350), ERA (11th – 1.62) and fielding percentage (2nd - .986)
» Outscored opponents 73-3 over the first two innings of games (29-1 in 1st, 44-2 in 2nd)
» Finished ranked in the top 15 nationally in nine different major stat categories
» 16-0 start to the season was the second-longest winning streak to begin a year in school history
» 22-2 record is the third-best through 24 games in program history
» Used 22 different lineup combinations and 17 different combinations defensively in the 24 games
» Five players hit over .350, 10 players hit home runs, 13 different position players earned a start
» Three different pitchers won at least five games, threw at least 40 innings and earned six starts
