Rebels extend win streak to eight games, longest since 2002
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss softball team (12-8) allowed just three hits and scored 20 runs in two games as the Rebels earned a doubleheader sweep of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Wednesday, defeating the Lady Lions 4-0 in game one, and 16-0 in game two.
After defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4-0 in game one, the Rebels came out of the gates in game two with 11 runs off four hits in the first inning. Among those four first-inning hits, were a pair of triples from freshman shortstop Haley Culley and freshman second baseman Melina Preciado.
The eight-run first inning cushion was more than enough for starting pitcher Carly Hummel. The junior from Bakersfield, Calif., threw a complete game (5.0 IP), striking out five while allowing just one hit.
“It’s good to throw some shutouts, and our defense played pretty well,” Ole Miss softball head coach Windy Thees said. “The first game, it took us awhile, offensively, to get anything going and we still were making some of the mistakes we made over the weekend, but in the second game we corrected those and were able to drive the ball a little bit better. Any time you win it’s good.”
Ole Miss extended its lead to 11-0 in the bottom of the second off three RBI singles from Marina Parra, Natalie Nimmo and Brittany Broome. The Rebels scored five more runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth to give them the final score of 16-0 in five innings.
The Rebels have thrown 16 straight innings of scoreless ball dating back to the fourth inning of the Rebels’ 2-1 win against Mississippi Valley State on Sunday. The two wins over UAPB extends the Rebels’ win streak to eight games, Ole Miss’ longest winning streak since 2002, and the second longest streak in program history.
In the two games combined Wednesday, Broome went 6-7 at the plate with six singles and five stolen bases. Broome now has 16 stolen bases this season, and 58 for her career, one shy of tying the program record set by Brooke Turner (2002-05).
“(Stealing bases) is her job,” Thees said. “We like to joke with her saying, ‘You can’t steal first. You have to find a way to get on base.’ Today, she got on so she was able to steal the bases that she needed to steal. I’m really proud of her.”
The Rebels will now head to Orlando, Fla., for the UCF Holiday Inn Select Spring Fling. Ole Miss will face Penn and the tournament host UCF on Friday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively. The Rebels will then play a pair of Big East schools in Villanova and Connecticut on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively. Ole Miss will close out the tournament Sunday against Villanova at 8:30 a.m. All times are Central.
Fenter Fans 11 In Ole Miss Shutout Win
OXFORD, Miss. – Junior pitcher Shelby Jo Fenter struck out 11 batters and senior left fielder Brittany Broome went 4-4 with four stolen bases as the Ole Miss softball team defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4-0 in game one of Wednesday’s doubleheader.
Fenter was in command in the circle throughout the game against the Lady Lions, pitching a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts while only facing two more batters than the minimum. After allowing singles to two of the first three batters, Fenter did not allow another Lady Lion batter to reach base for the remainder of the game, going three up, three up down for the final six innings. Fenter’s 11 strikeouts are her second most this season. The West Memphis, Ark., native struck out 12 batters in the Rebels’ season opener vs. Saint Mary’s.
“She came out with a really great focus to just work on fixing those little things and work on her game instead of necessarily just pitching to the other team,” Thees said. “She did a really good job of that because I felt like by the end of the game she was pitching a lot stronger than she did even at the beginning.”
Ole Miss got on the board first in the bottom of the third with a two-run single to left field by Londen Ladner.
Cantillo led off the fifth with a booming solo home run deep over the left field wall to give the Rebels a 3-0 lead. The home run was Cantillo’s third of the season, the most on the team.
The Rebels scored their fourth and final run of the game with an infield RBI single by Culley that scored Broome from third.
Broome was a menace at the plate in game one, going 4-4 with four singles and a career-high tying four stolen bases. Broome’s four hits against UAPB were a career high.