EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi announced the Ducks have added three transfers to the roster for the 2023 season.
Joining the team are two-time Southern Conference pitcher of the year Morgan Scott, two-time all-West Coast Conference honoree Alyssa Daniell and Kyla Morris, a starting outfielder from a Duke team that finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and advanced to the 2022 NCAA Super Regional round.
Daniell is a left-handed infielder from Happy Valley, Ore., who hit .357 (51-of-143) with 10 doubles and seven home runs as a sophomore for Loyola Marymount. The 2018 Oregon 6A player of the year helped the Lions win the 2022 WCC title and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. Daniell will be a junior in 2023.
Morris, from Claremont, Calif., hit .263 and scored 21 runs as a senior while stealing 11 bases in 13 attempts. The graduate transfer was perfect in the outfield with no errors in 50 chances and has a remarkable career fielding percentage of .990.
Scott, from Irmo, S.C., struck out a school-record 286 batters in 249 innings for UNC Greensboro last season. Nationally, she ranked second in innings pitched and ninth in strikeouts and victories (25). Scott threw 22 complete games in 32 starts with a 2.28 earned run average. She will be a senior in 2023, but has two years of eligibility remaining.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Alyssa, Kyla and Morgan joining the program,” said Lombardi. “All three student-athletes bring a tremendous amount of experience which will strengthen an already seasoned team.”
Alyssa Daniell, INF (B-L/T-L), Happy Valley, Ore. (Clackamas HS / Loyola Marymount)
The two-time All-West Coast Conference first team selection hit .357 (51-of-143) with 10 doubles and seven home runs as a sophomore in 2022 for Loyola Marymount, helping the Lions win the WCC title and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007 … Had 29 RBI and scored 31 runs with a .587 slugging percentage … Registered 11 multi-hit games including a season-best of three April 16 versus Saint Mary’s and May 13 against Santa Clara … Made just two errors in 301 chances for a .993 fielding percentage … Played in 54 games with 53 starts, primarily at first base … Was also named to the 2022 WCC All-Academic first team … Played in 35 games, making 33 starts as a freshman in 2021 … Posted a .291 batting average (25-for-86) … Recorded a .949 fielding percentage with 72 putouts and two assists … Named WCC Player of the Week (May 17, 2021) after leading the Lions with a .667 average in two wins against Saint Mary’s… Named to the All-WCC first team in both 2021 and 2022 … Was a .322 career hitter at LMU.
High School: All-American played four years of varsity softball at Clackamas High School … Served as team captain as a junior and senior… Named all-conference three times, all-state once, and All-America as a senior… Hit .735 in conference as a sophomore, and finished her career as a .601 hitter with 32 home runs … Helped lead Clackamas to a runner-up finish in the 2018 state 6A tournament … Named the 2018 Oregon 6A Player of the Year … All-State first team (2018-19) … Two-time Mt. Hood Conference Player of the Year and first team selection (2018-19) … Played club ball for NW Bullets … 2020 PGF All-American (Western Region) … Oregon ASA A-State Champion (2013, 2015, 2017).
“Alyssa is one of the best defenders in our game and we are excited for her to be returning back to Oregon,” said Lombardi. “She has the ability to change the game with one swing. She will be able to contribute to our program right away.”
Kyla Morris, OF (B-L/T-R), Claremont, Calif. (Claremont HS / Duke)
A four-time Atlantic Coast Conference honor roll member, the elite fielder has just one error in her career in 101 chances for a fielding percentage of .990 in 165 career games … As a senior in 2022, hit .263 in 55 games (52 starts) and scored 21 runs while stealing 11 bases (13 attempts) for a Duke team that finished second in the ACC and advanced to the 2022 NCAA Super Regional round … She had a career-best three hits March 6 at Georgia Tech … Went error-free in 50 chances in 2022 … As a junior (2021), started in 32 of 51 games played, primarily in center field … Had five sacrifice bunts and five stolen bases … As a sophomore, appeared in 21 games before the 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19 … Made 13 starts and primarily played in center field … As a freshman (2019), appeared in 38 games, drawing 12 starts.
High School: Spent four seasons at Claremont High School playing under head coach Tawnee Adams … Competed at the travel ball level for four years, including the 18U California Cruisers – Sievers squad … Helped her squad finish third in the 2017 18U PGF Tournament … Also lettered in cross country and track and field … Was a 2017 CIF Finalist at 400 meters … On the cross country side, she finished seventh at the state meet in 2015 … Was a member of Wolfcast, Claremont’s broadcast journalism program.
“I like the experience that Kyla brings to our team,” said Lombardi. “As another left-handed bat with speed, she will add a lot of depth to our lineup. She has the ability to create a lot of havoc on the base path which fits perfectly with our offensive strategy. We are excited to see Kyla fly around the bases as a Duck.”
Morgan Scott, RHP (B-R/T-R), Irmo, S.C. (Dutch Fork HS / UNC Greensboro)
The two-time Southern Conference pitcher of the year struck out a school-record 286 batters in 249 innings for UNC Greensboro … Nationally, ranked second in innings pitched and ninth in strikeouts and victories … Had 22 complete games in 32 starts … In addition to earning pitcher of the year honors, was named to the All-SoCon first team, the SoCon all-tournament team and the NFCA All-Mideast Region third team … Went 25-12 with a 2.28 ERA and four shutouts … Struck out 10 or more batters eight times with a high of 16 March 30 against Radford … Fanned 15 April 9 versus Chattanooga … Held Loyola-Chicago to two hits in a 4-1 win (Feb. 15) … Threw a one-hitter April 2 versus Western Carolina … Allowed just two hits to Furman in the opening round of the SoCon Tournament … Also had two saves … Was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week three times in 2022 … In her first full collegiate season (2021), was named the SoCon pitcher of the year and freshman of the year … All-SoCon first team … Led the SoCon with 20 victories and 210 strikeouts … Was the fourth pitcher in program history to record at least 200 strikeouts in a single season … Had a 2.18 earned run average with five shutouts … Struck out 14 batters in games against Elon and Furman … Earned three SoCon player of the week awards … Helped UNCG win the SoCon regular season and postseason tournament championships … The Spartans made an appearance in the Athens Regional of the 2021 NCAA Tournament … In the Covid-shortened 2020 season, made 15 appearances and 11 starts … 106 total strikeouts led the Southern Conference … Finished the season with an 8-5 record and 3.02 ERA … Named SoCon pitcher of the month for February after tossing five complete games and shutting out both Virginia and Oakland … Ranks second in UNCG career strikeouts with 602.
High School
Won four letters for Dutch Fork High School … Earned all-region honors all four years and was named to the High School Sports Report SCHSL AAAAA All-State Team her junior and senior seasons … Registered a 1.45 ERA, 146 strikeouts, seven wins and a .508 batting average her senior year … Played for NC Bandits under coach Mike Scott.
“Morgan is an elite pitcher who will add a lot of talent and depth to our pitching staff,” said Lombardi. “We saw firsthand what a tremendous competitor she is and our fans are really going to enjoy watching her pitch.”
