The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels and Bulldogs to Clash in Doubleheader
6/21/1999 | Softball
March 30, 1998
OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss and Mississippi State will renew a rivalry between the two schools, this time in fastpitch softball Tuesday as the Rebels and Bulldogs face off in a doubleheader at the newly-completed Rebel Softball Stadium in Oxford, Miss. The games will begin at 5 p.m.
Even though this is only the second year of play for both teams, the series has already become an intense rivalry. At stake in this doubleheader, however, is more than state bragging rights.
For Ole Miss (18-26, 2-8 SEC), this is a pivotal weekend in their quest to be among the Southeastern Conference's top eight teams that will play in the conference tournament. For Mississippi State (17-11, 5-3 SEC), this will be a chance to avenge three losses to the Rebels a year ago.
"We are really looking forward to playing our in state rivals," Ole Miss coach Joyce Maudie said. "Our team always gets up for Mississippi State and we know they are looking forward to this weekend as well. We had some success against them last year when we won three of the four games."
Last year, the teams met for four games with Ole Miss winning three of those contests. But it didn't come easily for either team last year as three of the games were decided by one run and two games went to extra innings.
MSU claimed the first extra session game with an eight-inning, 2-1 win March 5 in Starkville, Miss. It took nine innings before the Rebels claimed a 1-0 victory April 30 in Oxford.
"This is a crucial series for us," Maudie said. "It is important we get a couple of wins to get back into the SEC race and have a chance to be among the eight teams who will go to the SEC Tournament. To be successful, we will have to be solid defensively and be aggressive at the plate. They have a dominant pitcher and a they are good hitting team, and it will be a challenge for us."
The Bulldogs are coming off a 3-1 weekend against Arkansas, and are led by junior pitcher Autumn Anderson, who is 11-7 with a 1.15 earned-run average. MSU also returns first team All-SEC selection Keri McCallum. A sophomore catcher, McCallum is batting .478 with 11 extra-base hits and a .722 slugging percentage.
The Rebels, who are coming off a 1-3 weekend against No. 16-ranked LSU, are led by sophomore Amanda Fine who continues to produce both on the mound and at the plate. Fine is currently on a nine-game hitting streak, and has hit successfully in 16 of her last 17 game. Over that period, she boasts a .400 average while maintaining a 1.74 earned run average pitching.
After Tuesday's match up, the Rebels and Bulldogs will square off once more, this time in Starkville on April 25.
