Ole Miss Softball: Rebels Pick Up Two Wins In Lone Star State Tourney
Coach Mike Smith and Ole Miss softball finished up their final game of the Texas Invitational. as the faced the Texas Longhorns for the second time.
After a California tourney last weekend the Rebels were back in action in Texas. After dropping their first game of the Texas Invitational to Tulsa Ole Miss softball (8-6) bounced back to pick up two big wins over Sam Houston State. The latest win was special for coach Mike Smith as it placed him in the position of the all-time winningest coach in Ole Miss softball history. The Saturday morning win over SHS put Smith at the top of the Ole Miss softball record book.
Ole Miss softball began the invitational with two games Friday as the Rebels faced Tulsa and then followed up with the first of two games with Sam Houston State. The Rebels split the two Friday games beginning with a 1-4 loss to Tulsa but bounced back in the second game picking up a 5-1 win over SHS.
The Rebels followed it up with a 2-1 win Saturday morning over SHS but had to face the Texas Longhorns Saturday afternoon and the going was tough. In the Rebels first game against the Longhorns the Rebels fell short in a 2-3 decision. Sunday the Rebels were defeated 0-7 by Texas to finish the Texas Invitational. OHT will take a look at the Rebels five games by the numbers.
Game 1, L 1-4
Ole Miss Rebels
Against Tulsa there were 4 Rebels who combined for 5 hits at the plate. Leading all Rebels was sophomore Jessica Puk who went 2 for 3 in the game. Senior Brittany Finney went 1 for 2 with 1 HR which was the Rebels only run of the game. Senior Kylan Becker also went 1 for 3 while sophomore Sidney Gutierrez went 1 for 1 as PH.
In the circle senior Brittany Finney (2-2) drew the start for coach Mike Smith and the Rebels. Finney went for 4.1 innings allowing 4 earned runs on 6 hits. Finney had 4 Ks and 1 BB. Sophomore Ava Tillmann entered in the fifth and went the rest of way in 1.2 innings. Tillman allowed 0 earned runs on 2 hits with 1 K. Finney picked up the loss.
Game 2, W 5-1
In game two and the first of two games against Sam Houston State there were 4 Rebels who combined for 5 hits. Sophomore Jessica Puk went 2 for 3 with 2 HRs and 4 RBI. Sophomore Abbey Latham went 1 for 1 with 1 HR and 1 RBI. Senior Brittany Finney went 1 for 3 while junior Kaylee Horton went 1 for 4.
In the circle junior left-hander Molly Jacobsen (3-0) drew the start for the Rebels. Jacobsen went for 5.0 innings allowing 0 earned runs on just 1 hit. Jacobsen had 1 K and 1 BB. Sophomore Anna Borgen entered in the sixth and closed out the game. Borgen went for 2.0 innings allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit.
Game 3, W 2-1
In game three and the Saturday matchup against Sam Houston State there were 4 Rebels who combined for 6 hits. Two Rebels had multiple hit games. Leading all Rebels at the plate was junior Kaylee Horton who went 2 for 2 with 1 RBI. Sophomore Jessica Puk went 2 for 3 while freshman Tate Whitley went 1 for 2. Senior Kylan Becker went 1 for 3 at the plate. Freshman Mikayla Allee had a sacrifice RBI.
Sophomore right-hander Ava Tillmann (2-2) drew the start in the circle for coach Mike Smith and the Rebels. Tillman went a complete game pitching 7.0 innings and allowing 1 earned run on just 2 hits. Tillman had 5 Ks and 1 BB.
Game 4, L 2-3
In game four and the Rebels second game Saturday Ole Miss faced off against Texas. In the game there were 4 Rebels who combined for 4 hits. Leading all Rebels was junior Autumn Gillespie who went 1 for 1 with 1 HR and 1 RBI. Sophomore Ally Mena went 1 for2 while sophomore Abbey Latham went 1 for 3 with 1 HR and 1 RBI. Sophomore Jessica Puk also went 1 for 3.
Junior Molly Jacobsen (3-1) drew the start in the circle. Jacobsen went for 5.1 innings allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits. Jacobsen had 4 Ks and 2 BBs. Senior Brittany Finney entered in the sixth and finished out the circle for the Rebels. Finney went 0.2 and allowed 0 hits.
Game 5, L 0-7
In the final game of the Texas Invitational the Rebels had to face-off with Texas once again. In game five there were 2 Rebels who combined for 2 hits. Junior Kylan Becker and sophomore Jessica Puk each went 1 for 3.
In the circle senior Brittany Finney (2-3) drew the start for the Rebels. Finney went for 3.2 innings allowing 5 earned runs on 4 hits. Finney had 2 Ks and 2 BBs. Junior Molly Jacobsen entered in the fourth and finished out the inning. Jacobsen allowed 1 earned run on 2 hits.
Sophomore Ava Tillmann entered in the fifth and went 1.0 inning allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits. Freshman right-hander Savannah Diederich entered in the sixth and finished out the circle. Diederich allowed O earned runs on 1 hit with 1 K.
Observations
The Rebels may appear to be struggling but they have played some very good competition thru the 14 games they’ve played so far. When you look at the Rebels wins and losses you can see when the offensive production has slipped. The Rebels have great pitching but of course they have to be on every game in order to get wins. There are a lot of games left to be played and after one more road game the Rebels will be back in Oxford.
Next. The 2019 Diamond Rebels!. dark
Coach Mike Smith and Ole Miss softball will be back in action Wednesday as they travel to face Central Arkansas in a midweek matchup. First pitch is set for 5pm CT and the game can be seen on Bear Nation Network. Good luck to the Rebels. Hotty Toddy!