Ducks 18th in NFCA Softball Preseason Poll

[Charles Fischer]

(Press Release from Oregon Athletics)

 

 EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon was ranked 18^th in the 2022 NFCA preseason poll released Tuesday.

 

It is the fourth preseason ranking for the Ducks, who were No. 17 in both the USA Softball and Softball America polls and No. 16 in D1Softball’s preseason poll.

 

Oklahoma topped the NFCA poll, followed by Alabama, UCLA, Florida State and Oklahoma State.

 

Oregon was one of five Pac-12 teams ranked by the NFCA. The Ducks were joined by No. 7 Washington, No. 9 Arizona, No. 21 Arizona State and the No. 3 Bruins.

 

The Ducks have amassed a trove of preseason honors with the season opener a little over a week away.

 

Brooke Yanez, 5^TH Year, LHP

• USA Softball Top 50 Watch List
• Extra Innings Softball Elite 100 (No. 20)
• Softball America Preseason Top 100 (No. 47)

Yanez, a fifth-year senior from Ventura, Calif., was an NFCA third-team All-American and a first-team all-Pac-12 pitcher in 2021. She finished second in the Pac-12 with 268 total strikeouts and led the conference with 10.29 strikeouts per seven innings. An NFCA first-team all-Pacific Region selection, Yanez went 22-6 with a 2.11 ERA in 2021 while holding opponents to a .185 batting average in her 182.1 innings of work. Her 268 strikeouts are third in UO single-season history, behind only Cheridan Hawkins, who holds the top two spots.

 

Allee Bunker, SR, INF

• Extra Innings Softball Elite 100 (No. 84)
• Softball America Preseason Top 100 (No. 90)

Bunker, a senior from Huntington Beach, Calif., earned both all-Pac-12 first team and all-Pac-12 defensive team honors at second base in 2021. She was also named to NFCA second team all-Pacific Region. Bunker led the Ducks with 49 RBIs last season and tied for the team lead with 10 home runs. She hit .342 with 10 doubles, two triples and 36 runs. She was also one of the most difficult players in the nation to strike out, fanning just six times in 200 plate appearances.

 

Terra McGowan, JR, C

• Softball America Preseason Top 100 (No. 97)

McGowan, a catcher from Mission Viejo, Calif., finished third on the team with a .308 batting average to go along with five homers and 26 RBIs. She added six doubles and 24 runs scored. Defensively McGowan ranked second in the Pac-12 with 12 runners caught stealing. She was named both second-team All-Pac-12 and All-NFCA Pacific Region. One of the best clutch hitters on the team, McGowan hit .389 with runners in scoring position.

 

She delivered a pair of walk-off hits late in the season. The first was a home run against Arizona on May 7. The other was a walk-off single at Texas in the eighth inning of an NCAA Regional game to force a winner-take-all regional final against the Longhorns.

The Ducks open the 2022 season Feb. 10 against Ole Miss at Fullerton, Calif.

 

 

[30Duck]

Washington is quite the Women's Crew and Softball school now. I was hoping that the Huskies would slide a bit, Sis Bates has moved from All-Conference IF to student assistant coach, but it seems the talent is still there. Bunker will take her place on the All-Conference Team