The University of Mississippi Athletics
This Week in Ole Miss Softball
4/12/2000 | Softball
April 12, 2000
Ole Miss (17-32, 4-12 5th SEC West)
Friday: Kentucky (25-19, 7-5 1st SEC East)
Saturday: Tennessee (16-21, 4-11 4th SEC East)
Live Internet coverage at www.olemiss.edu/depts/umaa/softball
Last Time Out
The 13th-ranked Crimson Tide swept two double-headers from the Rebels in Tuscaloosa last weekend. The Rebels have now lost a season-high 11 consecutive games overall and nine consecutive SEC games. The Rebels continued to struggle offensivley as they failed to score more than two runs in the four game series.
Ole Miss vs. the Wildcats & Lady Vols
The Rebels have had the Wildcats' number the last three years with a perfect 8-0 record. Ole Miss has outscored Kentucky 34-11 in those eight games and allowed the Wildcats to score more than one run only twice. The Rebels have not enjoyed as much success against the Lady Vols, however. Tennessee has a 7-0 mark against the Rebels and has outscored Ole Miss by 47 runs (61-14).
In the Hunt
With 14 games remaining in the season, the Rebels find themselves one game behind Tennessee for the eighth and final spot for the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Rebels are 4-12 in the SEC, while the Lady Vols stand at 4-11. Tennessee begins the weekend with a double-header against No. 20 Mississippi State in Starkville on Friday.
Scoring Drought
The Rebels have struggled putting runs on the scoreboard this season, scoring five or more runs in only 10 of the 49 games played. The Rebels are hitting just .208 with runners in scoring position and just .244 with the bases loaded. Ole Miss has had 13 bases loaded situations this year, including nine times with less than two outs and managed to score only 10 runs in those 13 opportunities.
Letts Nears 200th Career Victory
Head coach Candi Letts needs only three victories to reach the 200-win plateau in her career. Letts has been sitting on 197-career wins since a 3-2 victory over No. 10 Southern Miss. In her seventh year as a head coach, Letts has a career record of 197-209-1, including a 42-68 mark at Ole Miss.
Swinney Closes in on Record
Senior Heather Swinney is inching closer to the record for doubles in a season that she set last year. Swinney has 11 doubles through 49 games this season after hitting 15 last year. Swinney needs five more doubles in the last 14 games of the season to break her record. Swinney is the all-time career leader in doubles for Ole Miss with 40 and ranks in the top 10 all-time in the SEC.
Tough Stretch
The Rebels will finally get a break from playing against Top 25 teams this weekend when they host Kentucky and Tennessee. Prior to this weekend, 18 of the last 20 games had been against Top 25 teams including the last 14 straight. Of the 18 games against Top 25 foes, 14 of those games were played on the road with only the four-game series against No. 9 LSU played in Oxford. The Rebels finished the 18 game stretch with a 3-15 mark, with all three wins coming on the road.
So Close
Although the Rebels have a 3-20 record against ranked teams this season, they have not been blown out in those games. Of the Rebels' 20 losses, only nine have been by five or more runs. Ole Miss has lost 11 of those games by four runs or less, including nine games by two runs or less.