The senior presence for Oregon softball has been a blessing all season. Head coach Melyssa Lombardi has sung the praises of the senior leadership all year. Young players such as Emma Cox, Maddie Milhorn, Kaylynn Jones and Taylour Spencer have praised the seniors forgetting them through tough times in the field and changing their approach.

“It’s just nice to have them in my corner, whenever I need, because I know they’re going to be there, they’re really reliable,” Spencer said.

Elon Butler

One of two transfers that have come to Oregon for her final season in college softball, Butler has hit for the first cycle in Oregon softball history, slugged her 50th career home run in a Duck uniform and has been a much-needed, consistent spark plug in the lineup.

She’s hit her way to a .407 average, a phenomenal .880 slugging percentage and she gets on-base over 50% of the time (.505). She’s not just doing it at the plate; she’s been showcasing her defensive talents in right field, most notably over the Washington series — she even made the Top-10 Plays on Sportscenter, slotting in at No. 9. Butler snagged a Senior Day RBI up the middle to score Jones.

Lyndsey Grein

Grein has been having the best season of her collegiate career. After the end of the Ohio State series, she has pitched 153.1 innings, accumulated a 2.15 ERA, achieved an incredible WHIP of .97, struck out 190 batters while walking 49 and opponents have been hitting under the Mendoza line against her (.179).

It should be noted that Grein is doing all of this in a season where she’s been heavily relied on because of the injury to Elise Sokolsky and the up-and-down performance from teammates out of the bullpen. Grein has also been a great mentor to both the pitching staff and the rest of her teammates.

“Lyndsey’s a big person that I look up to,” Spencer said. “(She) helped me a lot last year and even this year, just mentality-wise.”

Amari Harper

Harper came to the Ducks from Texas A&M University, but had been a part of the Ducks long before that. She would visit her grandparents up in Oregon as a kid and participate in softball camps the Ducks used to run. In her time as a member of Version 8, Harper has been cruising right behind Butler in most offensive categories. Where Harper excels is the on-base percentage: she has nine hit by pitches, 28 total walks and, along with her 52 base hits, gets on-base at a clip of .511. She got her Senior Day moment against Ohio State in Game 3 with a solo shot in the first and another home run later in the game; however, it was scored as a single with 2 RBI because she ran past Butler between first and second.

Harper’s showing out in the field too. In 57 chances, Harper has 54 put-outs and three assists, all without com- mitting an error.

“Amari and Elon alone, as power hitters here, they’ve done it all,” Jones said.

Remmington Hewitt

Hewitt has spent all four years of her career at Oregon. She appeared in the most games of her career in 2025 with 21 appearances, two starts and 20 at bats.

“Our team, our culture, our standards, where they are today, she has a lot to do with it,” Lombardi said. “And the leadership she’s provided in that area has been tremendous.”

Over her career, Hewitt has accumulated a career slash line of .241/.364/.426, with two career home runs and 10 RBIs and 13 hits.

Trinity Holden

The catcher from Lebanon, Ore., has been with the Ducks since 2024 after joining the team from Portland State University. Holden has played 14 games for the Ducks and has hit .111 in her career with one RBI and a .385 on-base percentage.

Elise Sokolsky

The redshirt senior from Rogers, Ark., faced some struggles opening up the year. She got knocked around early on in Big Ten play and eventually missed time due to leg discomfort, which she exited the Indiana game with in late March. Because of the interesting start to the year and the injury, Sokolsky’s numbers are a bit inflated: 3.52 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in 65.2 innings pitched.

But, despite the numbers, she’s been solid in her return to the circle against Washington, Oregon State and Ohio State. She’s given up seven runs in 18.2 innings, but has logged 14 strikeouts with only two free passes. Her re- turn has been, and will continue to be, beneficial down the stretch.

“Those girls want the best for us as well. They don’t want to crush their own season; they want us to crush it individually,” Jones said.

The senior class stood with their friends, families and teammates on the field at Jane Sanders Stadium after the 8-0 run-rule victory against Ohio State on April 26. Everyone was laughing, crying, smiling and finding joy in being around the people they cared for the most. But one thing was on the mind of everyone in the ball- park: Version 8 and its senior class wasn’t done yet. With another huge series coming up in UCLA, one riddled with playoff implications, the attention was set on their next time out on the field.

“It’s about us continuing to take care of our business and put us in a position to win the Big Ten, to put us in a position to have a great seed going into the Big Ten tournament,” Lombardi said.