The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Softball Splits Double-Header with Kentucky
4/14/2000 | Softball
April 14, 2000
Oxford, Miss. - Ole Miss pitcher Jennifer Hughes tied a career best with 10 strikeouts in leading the Rebels to a 3-1 win over the Kentucky Wildcats in game two of the twin bill Friday night.
The win prevented a sweep by the Wildcats (26-20, 8-6 Southeastern Conference) and snapped a season-long 12 game losing skid for the Rebels (18-33, 5-13 SEC). With the win, the Rebels also moved in to a tie with the Tennessee Lady Vols for the eighth and final spot for the SEC Tournament.
In game two, Mandy Shklar, who went 3-for-3 in the game, scored in the first inning after a single to shortstop by Lindsay Price to give the Rebels an early 1-0 lead.
After the Wildcats tied the game with a run in the third, the Rebels plated two more runs in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 3-1.
Amanda Lehotak walked to start the inning and moved to second after Shklar singled. Heather Swinney loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Lehotak then scored when the Kentucky catcher failed to tag the plate on a potential force out.
Kaci Coffee then singled to center to bring in Shklar and give the Rebels a 3-1 lead.
Pitcher Jennifer Hughes (4-5) shut the Wildcats down after the third inning to preserve the win.
In game one, the Wildcats scored a run in the first and sixth innings and held on for a 2-1 victory.
Heather Swinney ripped her fifth home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth for the Rebels' only run. Pitcher Holly Burris took the loss and dropped to 10-12 on the season.
The Rebels will take on the Tennessee Lady Vols on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (CST). The games can be followed on the Internet at www.olemiss.edu/depts/umaa/softball.