The University of Mississippi Athletics
Softball Falls to South Carolina in Speedline Invitational Semifinals
6/21/1999 | Softball
March 7, 1999
TAMPA, Fla. - The 13th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks ended Ole Miss' nine game win streak and ousted the Rebels in the semifinals of the Speedline Invitational Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 victory.
Ole Miss pitcher Jennifer Hughes (3-1) held the Gamecocks to three hits and struck out eight batters, but gave up a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth and a run scoring triple in the fourth.
The Rebels squandered a scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth when shortstop Mandy Shklar and center fielder Stephanie Vaglica hit consecutive singles. After a sacrifice bunt by Kaci Coffee advanced Shklar to third and Vaglica to second, South Carolina pitcher Nikki Beers retired the next two Rebel hitters to get out of the jam. The Rebels' last chance for a rally ended in the top of the seventh when Coffee was doubled-off at second after a fly out by Heather Swinney which ended the game.
After going 3-0 with a .749 earned run average, pitcher Amanda Fine was named to the Speedline All-Tournament team. Fine picked up wins against No. 11 South Florida and No. 23 Iowa and struck out 12 for the tournament. Shklar also earned all-tournament honors after scoring three runs, stealing one base and showing solid defensive skill at shortstop.
"We had a tremendous team effort this week. We played with a lot of heart and we have the talent to back it up," Ole Miss head coach Candi Letts said. "Amanda and Mandy played great for us this week and deserved the recognition."
With the loss, Ole Miss dropped to 14-4 on the season. The Rebels will remain in Tampa for the Reebok Classic which begins Tuesday, March 9, with a 4 p.m. game against Temple, followed by an 8 p.m. game against Robert Morris.
R H EOle Miss 000 000 0 0 3 0South Carolina 001 100 x 2 3 0OM -- Hughes, Willrath; SC -- Beers, Genovese
WP - Beers, 4-1 LP - Hughes, 3-1
