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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Indiana
Ole Miss Takes First Place At Season-opening Softball Tournament
2/3/2002 | Softball
Feb. 3, 2002
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Ole Miss opened its 2002 softball season with a first place finish at the UNM Diamond Invitational, going 2-0 against Indiana and host New Mexico over the weekend. The Rebels knocked out IU, 9-1, on Sunday to mark the first 2-0 start in school history.
Ole Miss jumped out to a 5-0 first-inning lead on the Hoosiers (1-1-1) keyed by back-to-back two-run singles by DeDe Justice and Andrea Brahs. A sophomore transfer from Indian River Community College, Brahs tripled home another run in the second inning, and Nicole Alger followed with an RBI-sacrifice fly to put the Rebels ahead by seven.
Justice, a freshman catcher from Vero Beach, Fla., finished 2-for-2 with three RBI and her second home run of the weekend in the fourth inning, while sophomore Britte Hardy notched a single and two stolen bases.
Junior righthander Leslie Day surrendered only one run off two hits in earning her second career win as a Rebel. Katie Witham was tagged for five runs before exiting in the first in taking the loss for Indiana.
On Friday, Ole Miss opened the new season with a 10-9 comeback victory over New Mexico. The Rebels rallied from six runs down, the biggest comeback in the program's history, to get by the Lobos in 11 innings, which also tied the longest game in UM history.
Eight of Ole Miss' nine starters notched two hits, including five newcomers making their Rebel debut. In addition, freshman Lindsey Whatley earned the win on the mound, allowing no earned runs over the final 6.2 innings.
Three of the Rebels' five scheduled games in their season-opening tournament were canceled due to cold weather.
Ole Miss continues play on the road with the Central Florida/Triple Crown Sports Tournament next weekend in Orlando. The Rebels will be matched up with Marshall, Purdue, Florida A&M and host UCF.
Ole Miss makes its home debut at the Rebel/Easton Invitational, Feb. 16-17 with Evansville, Tennessee-Martin and Nicholls State joining UM at Ole Miss Softball Complex.
DIAMOND INVITATIONAL (Feb 3, 2002 at Albuquerque, N.M.)Indiana Hoosiers..... 000 10 - 1 2 4 (1-1-1)Ole Miss Rebels...... 521 1X - 9 7 0(2-0)
Pitchers:Indiana Hoosiers - Witham, Cooke(1).Ole Miss Rebels - Day.Win: Day(1-0) Loss: Witham(0-1)T-1:18 A-67HR: IU Suca, UM Justice.
