Feb. 24, 2013

Box Score - Ole Miss 2, Mississippi Valley State 1 | Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss softball team defeated Middle Tennessee State 11-0 in five innings and Mississippi Valley State 2-1 to win the Red & Blue Classic on Sunday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. The Rebels went 5-0 in the tournament, and are currently on a six-game winning streak.

The Rebels (10-8) got a team-high five hits from Brittany Broome on the day, and got one win each from Carly Hummel and Shelby Jo Fenter and a save from Erinn Jayjohn.

“Any time you can come away from a tournament 5-0 you’ve got to be pretty happy,” Ole Miss softball head coach Windy Thees said. “There are definitely things we need to work on, but the good news is our girls understand that. To know and recognize the things you need to work on, and come away with five wins; that’s the best of both worlds.”

In Ole Miss’ second game Sunday, the Rebels fell behind Mississippi Valley State 1-0 in the third inning. Showing the fight it displayed constantly all weekend, Ole Miss came back in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to take a 2-1 lead.

Allison Brown hit a double down the left field line to lead off the fourth for the Rebels. Following a hit by pitch on Lauren Lindsey, junior catcher Marina Parra hit an RBI single to right field that also moved Lindsey to third. Freshman right fielder Bri Payne gave the Rebels the lead with a sacrifice fly to center field.

“I think we found every way to win ugly,” Thees said. “A win’s a win, and we won a couple good ones too. I’m not disappointed, but I definitely recognize all the things that we need to do to get better so we can play in the SEC and win games there as well.”

Junior pitcher Carly Hummel started and went 5.0 innings against the Devilettes, allowing five hits and one run while striking out four. Holding a one-run lead, senior pitcher Erinn Jayjohn came on in relief and picked up her first save of the year by throwing the final 2.0 innings without allowing a hit.

Ole Miss will play again Wednesday in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT. against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. Ole Miss is 2-0 all-time against UAPB, sweeping the Golden Lions last season in a doubleheader.

Ole Miss Wallops MTSU With 11-Run First Inning

Box Score - Ole Miss 11, Middle Tennessee 0 (5)

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss scored all 11 of its runs in the first inning against Middle Tennessee State, and defeated the Blue Raiders by a count of 11-0 in its first game of the day Sunday at the Red & Blue Classic.

“The first game was great,” Thees said. “Our girls came out ready to play, we attacked and we were patient at the plate, but when they threw strikes we attacked them. To get 11 runs in the first inning was awesome.”

Ole Miss came out of the gates swinging, scoring 11 runs on six hits in the opening frame. The Rebels hit five singles by four different players in the first, and a two-run double by Lindsey.

Broome went 2-2 in the first with one RBI, and finished the game 3-4 with three singles. Lindsey led Ole Miss with three RBI against the Blue Raiders, while junior right fielder Natalie Nimmo was 1-2 with a pair of RBI. In all, seven Rebels recorded at least one RBI, seven Rebels had at least one hit, and eight Rebels scored at least one run against Middle Tennessee State.

Not to be lost in the offensive power shown by the Rebels was the pitching performance by Fenter. The West Memphis, Ark., junior went all five innings for the Rebels, allowing two hits and striking out two.

For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball and on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball.

Ole Miss Softball Head Coach Windy Thees