College Softball: Oregon comfortable in Fayetteville regional

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - For the second year in a row, the University of Oregon softball team will start its journey to the Women's College World Series in Fayettteville, Arkansas.

Last year they won their first match-up before ultimately losing twice to the host Razorbacks, but this time around the Ducks will face Notre Dame in their first regional game.

It's the first time the two teams are meeting in the postseason, but Oregon picked up a win the last time they played the Fighting Irish back in the shortened 2020 season.

Four Ducks are still on the team from that match-up that they remember being really tough, while five Irish players are still on Notre Dame's team from that game.

But even though Oregon enters regional play on a 4-game losing streak, they said overall they feel comfortable in Arkansas right now, being familiar with the environment and even staying in the same hotel.

"To me, once you get to postseason, records are out the window,” said Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi. “It really doesn't matter if you just won your last four; the parity that's in softball now it's just incredible. Anybody can beat anybody on any given day, so I think our biggest thing is to continue to be focused on them, but then also to have a faceless opponent."

"Just sticking with postseason mentality, focusing on the first game, not changing anything, playing Oregon softball,” said Ducks catcher Terra McGowan. “We have the road map and [we’re] continuing to stay on that path."

First pitch between the Ducks and Irish is 2 p.m. Friday on ESPN2.