Softball Takes a Break from Conference Play in Florida

March 14, 2002

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Ole Miss softball team takes a break from conference play this weekend, traveling to Kissimmee, Fla., to compete in the Rebel Games, an independent tournament at Osceola County Softball Park. The Rebels are in action Saturday and Sunday and are matched up with four first-time opponents.

Ole Miss (11-8, 0-3 SEC) opens the event with Bowling Green (2-4), Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by Butler (3-2) at 4:10. On Sunday, the Rebels open Vermont's 2002 season at 8:50 a.m. and later face Wisconsin-Green Bay (0-6) at 10:40.

Ole Miss has played brilliantly in tournament play this season, boasting a pair of tourney titles. The Rebels captured first place at the season-opening UNM Diamond Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., as well as taking the crown at their own event, the Rebel/Easton Invitational.

Last weekend, Ole Miss launched Southeastern Conference action with a tough series at Tennessee, dropping all three games of the set. Despite the sweep, the Rebels provided some offensive fireworks with four home runs as a team, led by Desiree Layman's first two shots of the year.

Four UM home run records were broken in the series opener, including most homers by an Ole Miss squad in one game (3) and most by both teams (5). Long balls by Andrea Brahs and Layman raised the Rebels' 2002 total to 10 - a new school single-season high after only 17 games. DeDe Justice also ripped her sixth homer, placing the freshman from Vero Beach, Fla., all alone atop the UM single-season individual homer chart.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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