Ole Miss softball anxiously waited for their name to be called Sunday as the selections were made for the 2018 NCAA softball tournament.
Ole Miss softball awaited their fate as the selections were made for the 2018 NCAA softball tourney. The Rebels are selected to play in the Tempe regional beginning Friday and going thru Sunday. Arizona State is the host team with Long Beach State, New Mexico State and Ole Miss making up the field.
The regional is set up under the double elimination format which means the Rebels will play at least two games. The Rebels will first face Long Beach State Friday night. The weekend could easily place the Rebels playing the Sun Devils in a rematch of 2017 when Ole Miss ended the Arizona State tourney run.
WE’RE IN!!! The Rebs will head to the Tempe Regional to face Arizona State, New Mexico State & Long Beach State!#COMPETE #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/WuRVCIfR7E
— Ole Miss Softball (@OleMissSoftball) May 14, 2018
This is the third consecutive NCAA tourney selection for the Rebels and they are primed to have a strong tourney run in Tempe. In 2017 we watched as Ole Miss softball swept their host regional and advanced to the super regional in Los Angeles.
What Ole Miss Is Bringing
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The Rebels are currently sitting at 30-23 and have some momentum headed into the tourney at Tempe. The Rebels were bounced from the SEC tourney but are set to have a big weekend. Of course, the Rebels will attempt to ride the strong right arm of senior Kaitlin Lee.
Lee comes in the NCAA tourney off a loss in the SEC tourney but she is always ready to pitch and can. We watched her last season in the NCAA tourney and she was near perfect. So far this season Lee sits at (16-12, 2.32, 1) and is ready to close out her senior pitching campaign on a strong note.
Of course, should this opening weekend should go beyond two games the Rebels will certainly call on others from the pitching staff. Junior Brittany Finney and freshman Anna Borgen could be pivotal in the Rebels tourney success.
Plate Production Needed
Naturally the Rebels will be wanting and needing offensive production at the plate thru this weekend. Ole Miss softball has shown us thru the season offensive production equates wins and the hits will be paramount this weekend. When the Rebels make contact with the ball they are especially dangerous for other teams.
First pitch from Tempe, Arizona between Ole Miss softball and Long Beach State is set for 6pm CT. The game will be televised via ESPN. Good luck to coach Mike Smith and the Rebels. BEAT THE DIRTBAGS! Hotty Toddy!