The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Birmingham Southern
Rebels Take Doubleheader From Birmingham Southern 3-0, 2-1
3/31/2004 | Softball
March 31, 2004
Final Stats
OXFORD, Miss. - The Rebels used clutch hitting to sweep both games of a doubleheader on Wednesday as Ole Miss (11-21, 4-5 SEC) beat Birmingham Southern (14-21) in both games 3-0, 2-1.
The Rebels battled back from down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game off clutch hits from DeDe Justice and Rebecca McIntire to force extra innings. Stacy McCommon then came through with a triple to right field to score the game winning run and complete the sweep of the Panthers with the 2-1 win in the eighth.
"We really saw our team fight and come up with some clutch hits tonight," said Ole Miss head coach Candi Letts. "We haven't come from behind this season, but we dug down deep and fought hard tonight. This is definitely a learning experience and a good sign for this team heading back into SEC play this weekend with Alabama."
Dana Brill picked up the win in the second game, moving to 2-9 on the season as she struck out eight batters and walked none in 8.0 innings of work. She gave up the one run on six hits.
DeDe Justice came up with a big hit in the bottom of the seventh after Birmingham Southern had taken the lead in the top of the inning. Justice ripped a ball up the middle to reach first. She moved to second on a sac bunt from Andrea Brahs before advancing to third on a ground out by Brittany Warner. Justice scored the tying run when McIntire slapped a single into shallow left field with two strikes and two outs.
Desiree Layman reached on a fielder's choice in the eighth inning when the Panthers threw Jordan Chitwood out at third as she was placed on second per international tiebreak rules. McCommon then sat on the pitch and drove it to the fence for a triple that scored Layman to win the game.
Villavicencio suffered the loss for the Panthers, working 7.1 innings and striking out five batters and walking only one. She allowed four hits in the game.
In the first game, Mary Jane Callahan (9-9) earned the win for the Rebels as she pitched her fifth complete game shutout of the season and second straight after shutting down No. 16 Florida on Sunday. Callahan struck out eight batters on the night and allowed only one hit.
Brahs led the team at the plate with a 2-for-2 performance and a run, while Justice jacked her eighth home run of the season. Brahs put up the Rebels' first run after reaching on a single through the right side and advancing to second on a sac bunt from Warner. Callahan then ripped a double to left field to score Brahs.
Justice hit her home run in the fifth inning to add two more runs and extend the Ole Miss lead. Brooke Turner walked with one out then stole second before Justice strode to the plate and knocked the ball over the left field wall.
Ole Miss will return to action this weekend when the Rebels play host to No. 11 Alabama. The two teams will face off in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. The series will conclude at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
