Oregon softball has played its way to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2018, completing a sweep of Liberty with a 13-1 win on Saturday, May 24 at Jane Sanders Stadium.

The Ducks’ 2025 trip to the WCWS will be their first since the 2018 season and first-ever in Lombardi’s seven-year tenure at the helm.

“The hardest thing about the Women’s College World Series is getting there,” Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi said. “From there, you just get to play now… Obviously we want to advance in the WCWS, but you aren’t trying to just (continue advancing). You (got) there, you get to exhale and just play. What I’m excited about is that this team isn’t just happy to be there, they’re excited to go complete.”

After winning back-to-back games with walk-off hits from senior Dezianna Patmon, the Ducks cruised past the Flames en route to the best-of-three sweep.

The Ducks’ senior leadership — Particularly that of shortstop Paige Sinicki and sister outfielders Kai and Kedre Luschar — lead Oregon to the win, Lombardi said.

Batting first, second and fourth, respectively, the trio put together a combined six-hit day. As a part of a seven-run top of the seventh, both Luschars notched singles, while Sinicki cleared the bases with a triple off the right-field wall. All three hits represented each player’s final career at-bat at Jane Sanders Stadium.

“It was so special,” Lombardi said. “Just watching that last inning and watching our seniors continue to get up. Everybody kept passing the bat for (the seniors) to get them up… It was important for them to get their final at-bat here.”

Sinicki’s bases-clearing triple accounted for the final three runs of the win, while her second-inning home run tied the game. The Ducks rattled off a dozen unanswered runs from there on out, with seven of Oregon’s starting-nine logged a hit in the game. The two who didn’t — Patmon and first baseman Stefini Ma’ake — still reached safely with walks, including four for Patmon, who Liberty showed no interest in pitching to after her Friday-night heroics.

In the circle, Ducks starter Lyndsey Grein mowed through Liberty’s lineup.

The junior right-hander pitched a complete game, allowing just three hits, one run and striking out 10 batters.

The lone earned-run came to the first batter she faced, with Liberty’s leadoff batter Savannah Woodard blasting a solo tank. Grein (29-3) was stingy from there on out, returning to form and earning the win after rough performances in the regional and super regional rounds.

“I really just worked with coach to make the adjustments necessary to perform for my team today,” Grein said. “My job is really the easy part compared to what (our bats and defense in the field) do. Reiterating that, trusting in my preparation, trusting in coach just made today a lot more freeing.”

Oregon joins Oklahoma and Texas Tech as the first three to punch their ticket to Oklahoma City, with the final five spots yet to be determined.

The 2025 Women’s College World Series will take place at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, beginning Thursday, May 29.