​The sting of Oregon’s unexpected early end to its softball season in May hasn’t hindered Melyssa Lombardi’s efforts this summer to improve her roster for 2027.The Ducks lost their top two pitchers (Lyndsey Grein and Elise Sokolsky) and hitters (Elon Butler and Amari Harper) to graduation after the 2026 season ended with a loss in the NCAA Eugene Regional at Jane Sanders Stadium.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut Lombardi has added a few players out the transfer portal during the last month and also made some changes to her coaching staff as she prepares for her ninth season with the Ducks.Here’s a look at what’s been happening with the Oregon softball team this summer.1 / 4Hayward Field is open for business for the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.(Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard)Oregon will attempt to replace some of the production of Butler (.399, 67 hits, 66 runs, 59 RBIs, 19 home runs) and Harper (.396, 61 hits, 47 runs, 49 RBIs, 15 homers) with the addition of outfielder Ilove’a Brittingham, a junior power hitter who had 32 home runs and 107 RBIs in two seasons as a Cougar.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBrittingham was an NFCA all-American as a freshman in 2025 when she had 21 homers and 69 RBIs.She’s now on an Oregon team that includes her former Oaks Christian School (Westlake Village, Calif.) teammate Rylee McCoy, who also was an NFCA all-American as a freshman in 2025.Coming with Brittingham from BYU is right-handed junior pitcher Kate Dahle. In two seasons as a Cougar, Dahle struck out 154 in 178.1 innings. She was 14-12 with a 3.73 earned-run-average in 62 games.Dahle joins a rotation that is rebuilding and looking for a new ace after losing Grein (23-6, 2.73 ERA, 195 strikeouts) and Sokolsky (9-5, 4.07, 74).Oregon celebrates a home run by Elon Butler (0) as the Oregon Ducks host the Saint Mary’s Gaels in an NCAA regional on May 16, 2026, at Jane Sanders Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.The Ducks had a pair of players enter the transfer portal in pitcher Rowan Thompson and reserve outfielder Elyse Kresho.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThompson, a South Salem High grad, was the Class 6A pitcher of the year in 2023 but played in just six games for the Ducks the last two seasons.Kresho was a highly touted prospect out of Georgia in 2025 and was ranked as the No. 16 overall recruit by Extra Innings Softball. She played in 96 games over the past two seasons, primarily as a pinch runner or defensive substitute. She had two career hits in 20 at-bats. Kresho has signed with North Florida.Associate head coach and hitting coach Sam Marder and the Ducks parted ways soon after the season ended. Marder had been on staff since the 2022 season.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSydney Romero, who has been an Oregon assistant since 2024 and helps oversee the defense, has been promoted to associate head coach.Former Oklahoma pitcher Shannon Saile, who was a UCF graduate assistant in 2026, has joined the staff and will a