Power move: Softball transfers don't come any bigger than DJ Sanders, who joins the UO after leading the nation in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and runs per game as a junior.
As opening weekend approaches for the No. 3-ranked softball team, optimism runs high.
Though the Ducks had their Pac-12 title streak snapped at four last year, finishing in second place behind Arizona, they advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series before losing to eventual national champions Oklahoma. That capped a season that started with the Ducks winning their first 35 games, putting together the best opening in NCAA softball history.
Another 35-0 start to the season may be difficult, though, as the Ducks play 24 games against preseason nationally ranked teams in 2018, including the season opener against No. 25 Georgia on February 8. By the time conference play begins on March 16, the UO will have faced seven teams that are ranked and three that are receiving votes in the NFCA preseason poll, including No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 8 LSU, and No. 9 Florida State.
The schedule doesn’t let up once Pac-12 play begins, either. The conference opener is against No. 5 UCLA, one of four Pac-12 teams ranked in the top 10. In all, six conference sides are ranked. And if the Ducks want to gain revenge over No. 1 Oklahoma for last year’s WCWS defeat, they won’t have to wait until the postseason—the top-ranked Sooners visit Jane Sanders Stadium for a midweek game on April 19.
To prepare for the grueling season, the team bonded during a two-week tour of New Zealand, head coach Mike White’s home country in December. When they weren’t white water rafting, bungee jumping, and jet boat racing, they were going 7-1 in eight games against local opposition, including notching a 5-1 record against New Zealand’s national team.
Upon their return from the South Pacific, pitcher Megan Kleist and infielder Jenna Lilley were named to USA Softball’s Japan All-Star Series roster, joining alumnae Nikki Udria, BA ’17, and Jessica Moore, BS ’13.
Returning to the Jane alongside Lilley and Kleist in 2018 are standouts including Miranda Elish, Maggie Balint, Lauren Lindvall, and Gwen Svekis. Balint, a sophomore pitcher, started 17 games last year and notched a remarkable ERA of 1.22, good for tenth-best in the nation. She will compete for playing time with equally talented teammates Kleist and Elish, who had respective ERAs of 1.32 and 1.79, as well as freshman Olivia Kinsey, the No. 40 recruit in the nation.
In addition to Kinsey there are four other new faces on the team: freshmen Lauren Burke, Shaye Bowden, and Mary Iakopo, and senior transfer DJ Sanders. Burke previously played under White at the club level, and signed with Oregon as the No. 18 recruit in the nation. Iakopo, a catcher and the No. 8-ranked player coming out of high school, played for the USA Junior National Team in 2017 and competed at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City and WBSC World Championship in Florida.
“I’m really impressed by some of the freshmen, and DJ as well,” said Kleist. “She made some really sick plays. It’s always good to have that behind my back being a drop-ball pitcher.”
Sanders had an incredible junior season for the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, leading the nation in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and runs per game, and tying the NCAA single-season record for grand slams. The shortstop parted ways with the school though after the program fired head softball coach Michael Lotief for allegedly subjecting “student-athletes and co-workers to violent, vulgar language and verbal and physical assault, creating a hostile learning and working environment.” Sanders stood by Lotief, who denied the charges.
“DJ's abilities are obvious,” said White. “With her incredible power numbers, she will add much depth to our lineup. She will also be an excellent fit as a person into our program.”
The season opens on February 8, when the Ducks take on the Georgia Bulldogs in Tempe, Arizona, in the Kajikawa Classic. The game will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks, one of 21 games that will be aired on television; 18 on the Pac-12 Network, and three on either ESPN or ESPN2.
- Abby Keep, UO student