Megan Kleist Won’t Join UL Softball Until 2020

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns will have to wait a year before adding a two-time softball All-American to their to their roster.

Pitcher Megan Kleist, who announced in December that she was leaving the University of Oregon, and transferring to Louisiana for her senior year, will not be pitching for the Cajuns in 2019, as originally thought.

Louisiana head coach Gerry Glasco had this to say about the decision:

After carefully looking at all academic, economic, and athletic details with Megan kleist the past few weeks, we both feel it is her best interest to complete her degree at the University of Oregon before joining the University of Louisiana for the 2020 season, and to complete her Master's Degree in our new Environmental Studies Graduate program, which is the major and degree she desires.

A 2018 NFCA First Team All-American and the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, Kleist will not pitch in 2019. Instead, she will attend classes at Oregon, as she completes her undergraduate degree.

When she does join the program, Kleist will have one year of eligibility remaining with the Cajuns on the field, while she completes her masters degree at UL off the field.

During her three-year stay in Oregon, Kleist won at least 15 games each year on the way to accumulating a 59-18 mark, while posting a 1.60 ERA over 477 innings pitched.

The 2016 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Kleist was awarded All-American accolades in 2017, while also being tabbed a NFCA All-Pacific Region selection three times.

Last season, Kleist hit the 20-win mark for the second-consecutive year, going 21-7 with a 1.32 ERA, including 221 strikeouts in 179.2 innings pitched.

Kleist tossed a no-hitter against eventual national champion Florida State last season, while also throwing a one-hitter against then-No. 2 Oklahoma.

In the final 2018 NCAA rankings, Kleist ranked inside the Top 25 for earned run average, fewest hits allowed, shutouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio, total strikeouts, strikeouts per seven innings, victories and fewest walks allowed.

Louisiana went 41-16 last season, reaching 40 wins for the 20th-straight season, while being ranked in both major national Top 25 polls the entire season.