The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels To Challenge No. 10 Alabama In Weekend Series
4/2/2004 | Softball
April 2, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Fresh off a sweep of Birmingham Southern on Wednesday, Ole Miss (11-21, 4-5 SEC) hopes to continue the timely hitting that led to the midweek wins when the No. 10/11 Crimson Tide of Alabama (28-9, 9-6 SEC) comes rolling into town for a three-game series over the weekend.
The first two games of the series will be played as a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The final game of the series will be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
"We're really excited about another chance to get out there and play against one of the best teams in the nation," said Ole Miss head coach Candi Letts. "We really dug down and gutted out a win on Wednesday night and we need to take that intensity and focus into the series with Alabama this weekend."
Ole Miss got big hits from Stacy McCommon and Rebecca McIntire in the wins over Birmingham Southern, as both players came up with clutch hits in the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win. The Rebels hope several players continue to back up team leaders Mandy Ott and DeDe Justice, who hit her eighth home run of the season against the Panthers.
Mary Jane Callahan (9-9), who is second in the Southeastern Conference in ERA with a 0.79 average in conference games, is expected to start on Saturday. She picked up her fifth complete game shutout in the first game on Wednesday and her second straight shutout of the week to lead the Rebels.
The Crimson Tide enters this weekend's series after dropping a tough series to LSU in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has gone 3-6 in the last three Southeastern Conference series they have played.
Jackie McClain leads the Tide at the plate, hitting at a .413 clip on the season with 18 RBI and four home runs. Stephanie VanBrakle leads the team in both categories though with 26 RBI and 6 home runs on the season.
Jennifer Wright is an impressive 8-1 in the pitcher's circle this season with a team-leading 1.38 ERA in her 10 appearances. VanBrakle leads the team in complete games with 14 on the season and has posted a 9-5 record, while Erin Wright is 11-3 with a 1.59 ERA.
The Rebels have only beaten Alabama once, with a 3-1 victory coming in Oxford in 1999. The Tide leads the all-time series 24-1.
