March 8, 2013

Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Junior pitcher Carly Hummel threw a complete game, and the Ole Miss softball team (17-9, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) defeated No. 15 Kentucky 3-1 Friday evening at the UK Softball Complex in Lexington, Ky. The win is Ole Miss’ 13th in the last 14 games.

“It’s a big win for our program and for this team right here to get off to a good start in the SEC,” Ole Miss softball head coach Windy Thees said. “On a cold day here in Kentucky, we came out ready to play. Our team is focused and on a mission this year. We’re going to have to give it all we got. We’re playing some great teams; Kentucky’s an awesome team, we were lucky that we really saw their pitcher well today and got eight hits.”

Hummel, who is 5-0 in her last six starts, allowed four hits and struck out two in the victory and moved to 7-4 on the year. Junior center fielder RT Cantillo hit her team-high fourth home run of the year, and senior left fielder Brittany Broome extended her hitting streak to 13 games, a program record.

“(Carly was) phenomenal,” Thees said. “… I’m really proud of her. She needed this. When I coached her at Memphis she beat Kentucky and I think she came in today with a little bit of confidence even though that was years ago and completely different teams. Today she got her Ole Miss win against Kentucky, and I think for her this is a big stepping stone.”

Ole Miss got great production from the bottom of its lineup, as the seven, eight and nine batters – Melina Preciado, Natalie Nimmo and Haley Culley – went a combined 4-9 with two doubles.

“We talk about it every single day,” Thees said. “We need a different hero every day and I felt like we got some great at bats from some of our kids.”

Cantillo broke open the scoreless game in the top of the third with a solo home run to right-center.

Two innings later, Culley led off the top of the fifth with an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. After a sacrifice bunt by Cantillo, Broome hit an RBI single through the right side to bring Culley home.

After a stolen base by Broome, her 22nd of the year, and a walk for Allison Brown, junior first baseman Londen Ladner hit her second double of the game to bring Broome home and extend the Ole Miss lead to 3-0.

Kentucky tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run from Christian Stokes, but would get no more as Hummel finished out the game to give the Rebels a victory in the conference opener.

The Rebels and Wildcats will play again Saturday and Sunday at noon CT each day.

For all Ole Miss softball news and information, including live stats of the Rebels’ final two games against No. 15 Kentucky, go to OleMissSports.com. Fans can follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball and on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball.

Carly Hummel

Windy Thees