Ole Miss Softball: No.9 Rebels pick up tight midweek win over UAB

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)

Coach Mike Smith and No.9 Ole Miss softball were back in action Wednesday as the Rebels played host to UAB at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.

Wednesday evening No.9 Ole Miss softball (28-10) hosted UAB (15-23) at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. Coach Mike Smith and the Rebels entered the midweek matchup coming off a huge SEC road series win over No.22 in Lexington. Coach Smith and the Rebels were hunting a home win Wednesday night to improve the Rebels streak to three wins. UAB wouldn’t make it easy.

UAB got on the board first with 2 runs in the top of the first inning to take the early 2-0 lead. AUB maintained the 2-0 lead over the Rebels thru the middle of the fourth inning. Ole Miss cut into the UAB lead with 1 run in the bottom of the frame to make it a 2-1 game. In the bottom of the sixth the Rebels added 1 more run to make it a tie game at 2-2.

After a scoreless seventh inning the game went to extra innings. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning the UAB pitcher walked in the winning run giving the Rebels the 3-2 walk-off win. OHT takes a look at the win by the numbers.

By The Numbers

Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss Rebels

In the tough and tight midweek win there were three Rebels who combined 3 hits at the plate. Senior Brittany Finney went 1 for 2 with 1 RBI while junior Autumn Gillespie went 1 for 1. Freshman Tate Whitley went 1 for 3 in the game while freshman Mikayla Allee had 1 RBI. The Rebels left 8 runners on base in the Wednesday night win.

In The Circle

Sophomore right-hander Ava Tillmann drew the midweek start in the circle for Coach Mike Smith and the Rebels. Tillmann went for 6.0 innings allowing 0 earned runs on just 4 hits. Tillmann had 2 Ks with 1 BB with 3 HBP. Senior right-hander Brittany Finney entered in the seventh and finished out the night in the circle. Finney went for 2.0 innings allowing 0 earned runs on just 2 hits. Finney (11-5) picked up the win.

Coach Mike Smith and No.9 Ole Miss softball will be back in action this weekend as they host Missouri (23-16, 6-6) in a three-game SEC series. The Rebels will be playing a double-header Friday. First pitch for game-one from the Ole Miss Softball Complex is set for 3pm CT with game-two set to follow at 6pm CT. Game-three is scheduled for Sunday with first pitch set for 1pm CT. All three games can be seen via SECN+. Good luck to coach Mike Smith and the Rebels! Hotty Toddy!