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Ole Miss Softball: Rebels Drop Road Game To Tough Memphis Team

By Daniel Skipper

BEIJING - AUGUST 21: The shoes worn by players from the United States remain at home plate after the five players left them there following USA's 3-1 loss to Japan during the women's grand final gold medal softball game at the Fengtai Softball Field during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
BEIJING - AUGUST 21: The shoes worn by players from the United States remain at home plate after the five players left them there following USA's 3-1 loss to Japan during the women's grand final gold medal softball game at the Fengtai Softball Field during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Tuesday evening now un-ranked Ole Miss softball hit the road north trying to find a win against a very tough Memphis Tigers team.

Ole Miss softball (15-10, 1-5) had a rough Tuesday before they ever hit the field in Memphis Tuesday night. The Rebels who were ranked No.23 in last weeks USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll dropped out of the poll after taking only one game against then No.17 South Carolina. Coming into Tuesday’s midweek the Rebels had won only two out of their last nine games. The Rebels have struggled and desperately needed a big win over the Memphis Tigers (20-7).

After a scoreless 1st frame the Rebels struck first in the top of the 2nd with 2 runs. The Tigers answered with 1 run in the bottom but Ole Miss took the 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 3rd. It was then the Tigers exploded for 6 runs to take the 7-2 lead. The Rebels managed 1 run in the top of the 4th and  that was it. The Tigers added 2 more insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th to increase their lead to 9-3 which wound up as the final score after Ole Miss softball was shut down in the top of the 7th.

The loss was the Rebels the 8th in the past 10 games. Even though it was a non-conference game the Rebels needed to make a strong showing both in the circle and the plate. Although Ole Miss softball has a great pitching staff they have had lapses where they gave up big innings. It’s been in those games where the Rebels couldn’t compensate at the plate and it has cost them games. The Rebels have to be productive at the plate to pick up the slack. Of course, lets look at the stats from the game and see how it went down.

By The Numbers

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Freshman left-hander Anna Borgen drew the midweek start in the circle for coach Mike Smith and the Rebels. Borgen went 2.1 innings allowing 4 earned runs on 5 hits. Borgen had 5 Ks and 1 BB. Senior right-hander Kaitlin Lee entered the circle in the 3rd and went 2.2 innings. Lee allowed 2 earned runs on 2 hits.

Freshman right-hander Ava Tillman got the call for the 6th inning. Tillman allowed 1 earned run and had 3 BB. Mike Smith made the call and sophomore right-hander Morgan Bruce finished out the frame and the game for the Rebels. Bruce allowed no hits.

Struggles At the Plate

The Rebels who have struggled hitting as a team over the past two weeks are picking up their hits from the first two games of the South Carolina series. Tuesday night 4 Rebels combined for 7 hits against pretty solid Memphis ace Molly Smith. However, Smith had 11 Ks against the Rebels line-up.

Sophomore Kaylee Horton and senior Paige McKinney both went 2 for 3 at the plate. Horton scored 1 run while McKinney score 2 runs. Amanda Roth also went 2 for 3. Freshman Ally Mena came thru with a 1 for 2 night and had 2 RBI. The Rebels have struggled over the past couple of weeks at the plate. This team can hit the ball but have slumped significantly from the beginning of the season. The remainder of the SEC schedule will be brutal for the Rebels unless they get the fire back in the bats on a consistent basis.

Next: Will they be OK?

Up Next

Ole Miss softball will be back in action this week in three games of a five-game road stretch when they take on No.15 Alabama (20-7, 1-2) in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide come into the match-up off a 10-5 midweek win over UAB. Alabama’s 2 SEC losses came this past weekend at the hands of the No.14 Auburn Tigers. First pitch for game-one will be this Friday at 1pm CT. Good luck to coach Mike Smith and the Rebels. Beat Bama! Hotty Toddy!

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