Two of the most important pieces of Oregon's 2018 Women's College World Series run won't be on the 2019 Oregon softball roster after all. On Thursday, star pitcher Miranda Elish and up-and-coming designated player Lauren Burke announced decisions to transfer from the program. Both decisions were revealed on Twitter.

"I want to start out by saying I am forever grateful for the opportunity I had to play softball at one of the best universities in the country," Elish wrote on Twitter. "Thank you to my teammates, to the fans, and our old coaching staff for believing in me and letting this small town Indiana girl live out a lifelong dream... I have found in recent months that Oregon isn't the perfect fit for me anymore. With that said, I have decided to transfer out of Oregon and find my new perfect fit..."

Elish was a first-team All-Conference player in 2018 and was named to several All-American teams during her sophomore year. She was named to the Pac-12 All-Frehaman team in 2017. She led a talented, and often crowded, pitching staff in ERA (1.20), strikeouts (249) and wins (25).

She was especially dominant in postseason play in Eugene. During the team's Regional and Super Regional games at Jane Sanders Stadium she hurled 26 innings, while allowing just one earned run (good for a 0.35 ERA) while striking out 39 batters. Play in Oklahoma City did not go quite as well, as she struggled in outings against Arizona State and Florida State and allowed two runs in a relief appearance against Florida State.

The departure comes several months after longtime Duck coach Mike White left to take the Texas job. He has since been replaced by former Oklahoma assisantat Missy Lombardi.

Fortunately for Lombardi, the Ducks do return a pair of talented arms in senior Megan Kleist and junior Maggie Balint. Kleist was the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year in 2018 and was also named to numerous All-American teams. Balint battled injuries in 2018, but was also an all-conference freshman recipient in 2017.

Burke's emergence came much later in the season. The Marist High grad completed her freshman campaign on a tear. Like Elish, she was a postseason hero in Eugene. During regional and super regional action, she went 5-for-9 and scored five runs including two dingers. She finished the season hitting .351 with 17 runs batted in.

"My entire life I grew up going to softball games at what once was Howe Field and what is now Jane Sanders Stadium," Burke wrote on Twitter. "Playing in front of my hometown crowd, my family and my friends, was nothing short of a dream come true. As sad as I am to not be able to have my family at every single one of my games and say goodbye to my home for the past 19 years, I am deciding to part ways with Eugene and put myself in the best position possible to achieve all of the goals I've had for myself since I started playing..."

Neither player has announced a destination for their transfer.