EUGENE, Ore. - For the second straight year, the Oregon softball team has been picked first in the Pac-12 preseason coaches poll, the league announced on Wednesday.
The Ducks, who received eight of the nine first place votes, have won three-straight conference championships.
Oregon returns eight players who made 40-or-more starts in the field last season plus ace pitcher Cheridan Hawkins. Hawkins and sophomore third baseman Jenna Lilley were both All-Americans a season ago and each finished in the final three for national player of the year and national freshman of the year voting.
The Ducks, under head coach Mike White, open the 2016 season on Feb.