Oregon softball is riding high after a 2023 season that saw the Ducks go 38-17, 14-10 in conference play, make the NCAA Tournament, win the Fayetteville, Arkansas regional and play in the Stillwater, Oklahoma Super Regional. 

It was quite the season, and there’s a lot of excitement and anticipation for what Oregon can do in 2024. The Pac-12 looks to be an extremely competitive conference once again in its final year, and the Ducks need to do everything they can to prepare for it.

Some of that preparation comes in the form of fall ball. Oregon will host eight games against other schools from the Pacific Northwest region. The Ducks, who were 8-7 at Jane Sanders Stadium last season, will look to build their depth and see just what their team is capable of ahead of the real season, which doesn’t have a set starting date quite yet.

Aside from the games that Oregon will be directly competing in, Jane Sanders Stadium will also host three games where some of the teams that travel to Eugene will get to face off with each other.

Maui Relief Game – Oct. 8, 2023

The Ducks will take on the Corban College Warriors for their first game of the fall season. Corban, located in Salem, went 10-34 in 2023. The game will bring awareness — and hopefully, funding — to the Maui Relief effort after the wildfires suffered on the island earlier this year. The Oregon football and volleyball teams have already dedicated games to the effort, and softball will do so in its first game.

Sock Drive Weekend – Oct. 14 & 15, 2023

Four teams will travel to Eugene in mid-October for the Ducks’ sock drive weekend. Boise State (32-17 in 2023), Western Washington (26-23 in 2023), College of the Siskiyous (26-23 in 2023) and Oregon Tech (54-10 in 2023) will all face off with Oregon across the span of two days. 

The Ducks will play Boise State and Western Washington on Saturday, as well as host a game between the Broncos and Vikings. 

The College of the Siskiyous and Oregon Tech will also play each other at Jane Sanders Stadium on Sunday, along with both the Eagles and Owls facing off against the Ducks in what will be a bird-filled Sunday.

Fans are encouraged to come support their team and bring some socks to donate to the great cause!

Toy Drive Game – Oct. 18, 2023

A midweek clash with the Western Oregon University Wolves will serve as Oregon’s fall Toy Drive Game. Fans will be encouraged to bring toys to be donated to less fortunate families and children. It’s sure to be a heartwarming, chilly fall evening for the 5:30 p.m. first pitch. The Wolves went 22-30 last season and look to have a better showing in 2024.

Pink Game / Canned Food Drive – Oct. 22, 2023

During Oregon’s Fall Family Weekend, the Ducks will cap off their fall season with two games against Southern Oregon University and Mt. Hood Community College. 

The first game will be against the Southern Oregon Raiders, who went 50-12 last season. Then, Oregon will play Mt. Hood Community College for its last game of the fall campaign. 

Southern Oregon and Mt. Hood Community College will also play a game against each other between Oregon’s two games.

The pink theme will bring awareness and support to fighting breast cancer, and the canned food drive will be a great chance for community members to give back to Eugene. 

The fall season is a tremendous opportunity for head coach Melyssa Lombardi to figure out just where her team is ahead of the 2024 season. The Ducks’ schedule looks like it’ll have a healthy mix of Oregon-favored matchups and competitive preseason games.

The focus on the field will be getting the team ready for the gauntlet that is the 2024 NCAA Softball season. But, off the field and in the stands, Oregon is using its fall slate to host some incredible, charitable events and promotions.

With a good team, and an even better turnout, the Ducks can be both winners on the diamond and in the community this fall.