The University of Mississippi Athletics
This Week in Ole Miss Softball
2/27/2001 | Softball
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
South Carolina series, Ole Miss Softball Complex (Oxford, Miss.)
Mar. 3
vs. South Carolina [DH], 2 & 4 p.m. (CT)
Mar. 4
vs. South Carolina, 11 a.m.
SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
Ole Miss (8-9) opens Southeastern Conference play this weekend against No. 19 South Carolina (11-7-1) at Ole Miss Softball Complex. The Rebels trail the all-time series with the Gamecocks, 1-8, but earned a split in their doubleheader last year in Columbia. Holly Burris tossed a two-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory over then 17th-ranked USC. Ole Miss is 0-1 against ranked foes this season, falling to No. 17 Cal-State Fullerton, 9-0, in the season-opening Lobo Diamond Invitational.
OSU COWGIRL CLASSIC
After rain canceled the OSU Cowgirl Classic the first two days, Ole Miss was able to play a pair of games on Sunday, defeating Creighton, 3-2, and falling to host Oklahoma State, 6-1. The eight-inning win over Creighton was the Rebels' third straight extra-inning game and the fourth consecutive winning decision for Jennifer Hughes. After being no-hit for six innings, the Rebels broke free in the seventh with a lead-off single by Holly Burris, who was later driven home on a two-out single by Amber Slaton to tie the game at 1-1. The Jays took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth, but the Rebels answered with Jennifer Poore's pinch-hit single driving home Amanda Lehotak. Two batters later, Jamie Cummings smashed the game-winning hit to right field to send in Poore.
SLATON HEATS UP
After a slow start, junior transfer Amber Slaton has raised her level of play of late. Over the last five games, Slaton is batting .429 (6-for-14) with four doubles. She also delivered a clutch hit against Creighton, driving in the game-tying run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. A native of Lancaster, Calif., Slaton is one of four Rebels that has started all 17 games this season - 16 at third base and one at first. Her .922 fielding percentage ranks her among the top five defensive third baseman in the SEC. Slaton joined the Rebels this season after spending two years at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster.
HUGHES CONTINUES HER TEAR
After tossing two straight shutouts, Jennifer Hughes avoided a letdown by setting a new Ole Miss record for single-game strikeouts with 14 in the 3-2 win over Creighton in Stillwater. She earned her fourth consecutive complete-game win and second straight eight-inning victory. A southpaw from Missouri City, Texas, Hughes has allowed only three earned runs in her last 41.2 innings-pitched (0.51 ERA). She leads the Rebels this season with a 4-2 record, a 2.02 ERA and 47 strikeouts.
