UPDATE 12/14/18 10:55 — Via her Twitter account on Friday, Kleist announced that she will be transferring to Louisiana-Lafayette. In her posted statement, the right-hander wrote, “It is with great pleasure that I would like to announce my recent commitment to the University of Louisiana Lafayette to further my education and conclude my softball career. When looking at the memories made over the course of the last three years, the people I’ve met, and the opportunities I’ve had the chance to experience with my girls, I am forever grateful. I’ve been unable to come to peace with what has happened over the course of the last few weeks, however, I’ve been reminded that the recent circumstances I’ve been put under have been nothing short of a blessing in disguise. Most of you don’t know the story, but for those that do, will know how near and dear to my heart it has remained throughout the last 6 years apart. It has been my lifelong dream to once again play for the man who originally led me to love, respect and play this game. Now, I’ve been given the opportunity to allow that dream to come full circle, and it was an opportunity I was unable to overlook. Moral of the story, sometimes things don’t always go as planned, but it is no coincidence that this was written in the plans for me from the man above. Thank you to those who have impacted my life to allow me to get to this point. I would not change a thing, because it has led me to be the person I am today with the opportunity of a lifetime, and for that, I am forever grateful. I’m signing on to fulfill a life surrounded by coaches, players, and a community with a lot of Love to give, and I’m coming in with open arms. Sometimes you find what you’re looking for in the places you least expect it. This is truly a special team, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store. Cajun country, I’m comin.”
ORIGINAL STORY 12/07/18:
Reigning PAC-12 Pitcher of the Year Megan Kleist has elected to leave Oregon and will transfer, sources have confirmed to Justin’s World of Softball.
Kleist is a two-time all-American, earning second-team honors in 2017 and being named to the first team in 2018. She was named the PAC-12’s Pitcher of the Year in 2018 and was a Top 10 finalist for the USA Softball National Player of the Year award.
A prominent part of the 2018 squad that earned the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament, Kleist posted a 59-18 overall record during her first three seasons with the Ducks and posted a 1.67 individual ERA. She collected 475 strikeouts and posted a near-7/1 strikeout/walk ratio.
Kleist is the latest all-star player to leave the Ducks this fall, following a plethora of other players that includes fellow all-American pitcher Miranda Elish. Kleist is the fifth all-American nationwide to transfer to a new school this fall, joining Elish; Giselle Juarez; Katie Prebble; and Kendyl Lindaman.
The Ducks are left with a fraction of their 2018 PAC-12 championship-winning roster that also earned the #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
