For everything that happened in the world of sports on the Ole Miss campus during the week of April 7 – 13, 2014.
Softball
Ole Miss Splits Doubleheader at SELA
Haley Culley knocked in four runs in game one Monday at Southeastern Louisiana.
Ole Miss cruised in game one of Monday’s doubleheader at North Oak Park in Hammond, La., against Southeastern Louisiana en route to a 9-0 (6) win, but fell 3-2 in game two on a walk-off, two-run home run by the Lady Lions.
The Rebels got 6.1 solid innings from redshirt-freshman pitcher Emily Gaitan in game two, but couldn’t hold on to its 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Junior Allison Brown and senior Marina Parra provided one RBI each in game two.
Ole Miss (20-19) got on the board first in game two when Brown hit an RBI single to left field that scored sophomore Haley Culley from second base.
Southeastern Louisiana responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI walk with the bases loaded to tie the game at 1-1. Ole Miss avoided further damage in the inning by turning an inning-ending 5-2-3 double play with the bases loaded.
Parra broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout to second base that scored pinch runner Miranda Strother from third base. Strother was pinch running for junior Lauren Lindsey, who led off the inning with a double into the right-center field gap.
The Lady Lions won the game in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off, two-run home run to center field by designated player Amber Sather.
Ole Miss will play again Friday when it opens play against No. 12 Kentucky at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. Friday’s series opener will begin at 6 p.m. CT, while game two Saturday will start at 2 p.m., and first pitch for Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Rebels Cruise to 9-0 Victory in Game One
Behind 10 hits and at least one run in every inning of the game, Ole Miss cruised to a 9-0 (6) victory in game one of Monday’s doubleheader at Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, La.
Sophomore shortstop Haley Culley led Ole Miss at the plate, going 2-3 with a home run and four RBIs. It was the second home run of the season for Culley, and her four RBIs marked her second highest total of the season. Junior right fielder Jamie Morgan also had a strong game offensively, going 2-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
In the circle, senior pitcher Carly Hummel (9-7) picked up the win, striking out six batters in 4.0 innings of work and giving up just two hits. Fellow senior Shelby Jo Fenter came in to start the fifth inning and threw two shutout innings while recording a pair of strikeouts.
Senior outfielder RT Cantillo got Ole Miss on the board in the top of the first by scoring on a wild pitch. Ole Miss tacked on one more run in the second inning when Culley hit an RBI double to right field to score Morgan from second base.
After flying out to the warning track in left field in the top of the second, freshman Miranda Strother hit a solo home run in the third inning to give the Rebels a 3-0 lead. It was the third home run of the season for the rookie from Suwanee, Ga.
One inning later, with Morgan on second base and one out away, Culley blasted a two-run home run dead to center field to put the Rebels up 5-0.
Ole Miss then scored two more runs in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and no outs on the board, Morgan hit into a fielder’s choice at second, allowing pinch runner Melina Preciado to score from third base. Two batters later, Culley knocked in her fourth run with a sacrifice fly that scored Strother.
The Rebels tacked on two more unearned runs in the top of the sixth to take a 9-0 lead, which proved to be the final score. With redshirt freshman Alyssa Invergo on third base, senior catcher Marina Parra hit a grounder to the Southeastern pitcher, who was unable to field it, allowing Invergo to score. Morgan then recorded an infield single that scored Preciado – who had stayed in the game as the designated play – from third base.
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.
Softball Hosts Kentucky in SEC Series
After playing six straight games on the road, the Ole Miss softball team finally returns to the friendly confines of the Ole Miss Softball Complex to host No. 11 Kentucky in a three-game series beginning Friday.
The Rebels (20-19, 3-9 Southeastern Conference) and Wildcats (32-8, 7-5 SEC) open play at 6 p.m. CT Friday, followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. and the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
“We haven’t played at home since March 23 and that’s the last time we played an SEC opponent at home as well, so we’re really excited about this weekend, playing in front of our fans again and facing Kentucky,” Ole Miss head coach Windy Thees said. “We had a really tight series with UK last year in Lexington. They’ve pitched really well this season so our bats are going to need to be sharp all three games as they were in our last SEC home series versus Arkansas.”
In that series against the Razorbacks, Ole Miss plated 31 runs in the three games combined. The Rebels have won three of their past four games at home, including two games against Arkansas, and a combined no-hitter over Louisiana Tech on March 19.
There will be free tumblers for fans Friday, hair ribbons Saturday and sweatbands Sunday. The Ole Miss Softball Complex will be hosting Crawfish Saturday for game two of the series, with 100 pounds of crawfish available for fans in the outfield free of charge. Saturday is also OPC Day, as Ole Miss softball players and coaches will host a clinic for kids in attendance following the conclusion of the game. Sundaywill be Sundae Sunday at the park, where fans can get free ice cream sundaes while supplies last.
On March 31, Ole Miss senior outfielder RT Cantillo was selected by the Chicago Bandits in the fifth round of the National Pro Fastpitch College Draft. At the plate, the Santa Ana, Calif., native has the second highest batting average in the SEC (.486) and the third best on-base percentage (.559) in the league. She also leads the team in runs scored (23). She is currently in the midst of a career-long 10-game hitting streak.
Senior first baseman Londen Ladner has knocked in a team-high 27 runs for the Rebels, and has belted out a team-high six home runs.
The Rebel pitching staff has been much improved this season, recording 26 games in which they have allowed three or fewer earned runs, equaling their season total from a year ago. The staff has been led by Hummel, a fifth-year senior from Bakersfield, Calif., who holds a 9-7 record with a 3.17 ERA in 95.0 innings, and a team-high 90 strikeouts.
Kentucky head coach Rachel Lawson is in her seventh year leading the Wildcats. The winningest head coach in program history, Lawson has led UK to two NCAA Super Regionals in the last three seasons, including a program-best 41 wins last year.
Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Nunley (15-4), who was a Freshman All-SEC selection last year, leads Kentucky in the circle with a 1.96 ERA in 128.2 innings of work, striking out a team-high 110 batters. Senior Lauren Cumbess (8-0) has a team-best ERA of 1.61 in 74.0 innings of work.
Junior catcher Griffin Joiner has hit a team-high eight home runs, while sophomore infielder Nikki Sagermann leads the team with 31 RBIs, and sophomore outfielder Sylver Samuel has the highest batting average (.374) among those with at least two at bats per game.
For all Ole Miss softball news and information, including live stats and recaps after each game of the three-game series, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball and on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball.
–Ole Miss Sports Information
Men’s Golf
Rebels, Morris Finish Third at Old Waverly
Junior Blake Morris claims third place.
Junior Blake Morris fired a 2-under par 70 to lead the Ole Miss men’s golf team in the final round of the Old Waverly Collegiate Championships hosted by Mississippi State Tuesday.
Morris, who posted 13 birdies in the tournament, claimed third place with a three-round score of 8-under 208, marking his third top-five finish this season.
As a team, the Rebels finished in third place with a three-round total of 2-under 862. Host team Mississippi State claimed the tournament title.
“As a group of competitors who want to win we are obviously disappointed in the outcome,” head coach Ernest Ross said. “As a coach, I know our guys tried their hardest, and I am proud of them for giving their best effort. Every team and every player wants to win, but the prize goes to the team that prepares the best. We will go back and prepare for our next tournament. I’m extremely proud of Blake and his continued good play. He’s having a great season.”
Junior Joe Lewis, who tied for 22nd place, carded his best finish of the season, posting a score of 2-over 218. Senior Tom Brown finished in a tie for 28th after firing a 3-under 69 in round two, including four birdies.
Freshman Noah West, who tied for 35th place, posted a three-round total of 5-over par 221. Sophomore Connor Davis finished the tournament tied for 55th place with a three-round score of 223.
The Rebels now look forward to hosting their home tournament, the Reunion Intercollegiate, in Madison, Miss. April 14-15.
Fans can follow scoring by going to OleMissSports.com and clicking the link in the calendar. Follow the Rebels all season at @OleMissMGolf and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OleMissMGolf.
Ole Miss individuals:
3. Blake Morris 70-68-70—208
T22. Joe Lewis 73-73-72—218
T28. Tom Brown 78-69-73—220
T35. Noah West 71-74-76—221
T55. Connor Davis 75-73-75—223
Teams:
1. Mississippi State 296-282-281—859
2. Cincinnati 289-291-280—860
3. Ole Miss 289-283-290—862
4. Florida 289-291-286—866
T5. South Alabama 286-288-293—867
T5. Chattanooga 295-283-289—867
T5. Austin Peay 291-289-287—867
8. Southeastern Louisiana 291-294-289—874
T9. Louisiana Tech 298-295-282-875
T9. Troy 302-285-288—875
11. Charleston Southern 297-290-290—877
T12. Louisiana 291-294-293—878
T12. No. 37 Memphis 290-291-297—878
14. Southern Mississippi 305-291-285—881
15. Wichita State 298-294-296—888
–Ole Miss Sports Information
Volleyball
Rebels’ Aubrey Edie Makes U.S. National Collegiate Team 
Aubrey Edie
Ole Miss freshman volleyball player Aubrey Edie has been selected to train and compete with the U.S. Collegiate National Team, as announced by USA Volleyball Tuesday.
Edie (Fayetteville, Ark.) is among 36 athletes selected by USA Volleyball to participate in the U.S. Collegiate National Team (CNT) program that will train and compete in conjunction with the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships from June 22 to July 1 in Minneapolis.
Athletes participating on the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team were selected from the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 21-23 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Edie was one of 248 athletes from 106 colleges and universities to participate in the tryouts.
“The Ole Miss volleyball team is excited for Aubrey,” head coach Steven McRoberts said. “It takes a lot of hard work and talent to make this squad. We are looking forward to supporting Aubrey in any way that we can in order for her to be successful as she represents Ole Miss on the U.S. Collegiate National Team.”
The 2014 CNT program includes nine middle blockers, nine outside hitters, six opposites, six setters and six liberos.
After the training portion of the program, the 36 athletes will be divided into three equal teams which will compete in a round-robin event June 27-30. The round-robin event may add an international team to increase the field to four teams that would complete June 26-30. This program is considered a second tryout for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Edie averaged a team-high 9.21 assists per set in 2013, the eighth best mark in the SEC and tops among freshmen in the league. She had a team-high eight double-doubles in all matches, tied for the second most in the SEC among rookies, and her six double-doubles in SEC play was the second most among freshmen. Edie broke the Ole Miss single-match program record with 61 assists vs. LSU, and also had a team-high and season-high tying 16 digs en route to earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
–Ole Miss Sports Information
Rebel Road Trip
Oxford Hosts BancorpSouth Rebel Road Trip Meeting
Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze headlines the speakers on Thursday, April 17 in Oxford, as the BancorpSouth Rebel Road Trip holds its eighth meeting of an 11-stop, weeklong tour of the region.
Other speakers in the lineup include men’s basketball coach Andy Kennedy, women’s coach Matt Insell and athletics director Ross Bjork.
The event will be held at the Inn at Ole Miss, Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom from 7:30 to 9 a.m. CT, and breakfast will be served. Visit www.rebelroadtrip.com for tickets and full details of the caravan.
The BancorpSouth Rebel Road Trip (#RRT14) features Ole Miss fan meeting across four states and runsSunday through Friday. Oxford is among five return stops on the third annual tour, along with Memphis, Corinth, Jackson and Tupelo. Six new destinations include Dallas, Little Rock, Jackson, Tenn., Grenada, Hattiesburg and Biloxi.
In addition to the speakers, the meetings include Ole Miss officials, special guests, information booths, merchandise and an exciting video look at the University, including Rebel Athletics, the Athletics Foundation and the Alumni Association.
In its first two years, the BancorpSouth Rebel Road Trip reached 22 markets and 6,781 fans, not including the thousands on hand for Oxford’s Double Decker Arts Festival in 2012. The inaugural tour served as public introductions for Freeze and Bjork and earned high praise for uniting the Ole Miss fanbase.
2014 BancorpSouth Rebel Road Trip
Sunday, April 13: Dallas (5:30-7:30 p.m., Prestonwood Country Club)
Monday, April 14: Little Rock (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Whole Hog Café); Memphis (5:30-7:30 p.m., Memphis Botanic Garden)
Tuesday, April 15: Jackson, TN (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Jackson Country Club); Corinth (5:30-7:30 p.m., Crossroads Arena)
Wednesday, April 16: Grenada (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Mattox Event Center); Jackson, MS (5:30-7:30 p.m., Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame)
Thursday, April 17: Oxford (7:30-9 a.m., Inn at Ole Miss – Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom); Tupelo (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena – North Hall)
Friday, April 18: Hattiesburg (7:30-9 a.m., Canebrake Country Club); Biloxi (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Biloxi Civic Center)
This Weekend:
Baseball
The Ole Miss baseball team travels down to Starkville, Miss to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. A full preview of the series will be on HottyToddy.com tomorrow. Game times are set for:
Friday: 6:30 p.m.
Saturday: 3:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:30p.m.
–Adam Brown, sports editor of HottyToddy.com