The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Birmingham-Southern
Softball Splits Doubleheader With Birmingham-Southern
5/2/2006 | Softball
May 2, 2006
Box Score
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss closed out the 2006 home slate with a 2-0 win and 2-0 loss to non-conference foe Birmingham-Southern on Tuesday evening at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
The victory in game one extended a six-game win streak and nine-game non-conference win streak, before both were snapped in the nightcap.
The Rebels move to 22-34 on the season, while Birmingham-Southern is 26-19.
Ole Miss will attempt to get back to its recent winning ways this weekend when the team travels to Auburn to take on the No. 21-ranked Tigers in a three-game series to close out the regular season. The Rebels are a half-game back of South Carolina for the eighth and final spot in the SEC Tournament, needing the Gamecocks to win one less game than they do this weekend in order for the Rebels to advance to the conference tourney for the first time in program history.
"I was disappointed with our overall effort tonight," said first-year Ole Miss head coach Missy Dickerson. "I hope this will serve as a wakeup call so that the team comes ready to play this weekend. We still have a chance to accomplish something special that would be a great sign for the direction of this program."
In the first game, senior right-hander Dana Brill (11-14) shut down the Panthers for her fourth complete-game shutout of the season, giving up two hits and striking out eight with just one walk.
The Rebels broke up Kristina Villavicencio's (16-9) bid for a no-hitter with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior Jill Bandhauer drove in the first run of the game with a pinch-hit single up the middle, scoring junior pinch-runner Vanessa Gibbs.
Ole Miss made it 2-0 two batters later when Rebecca McIntire hit a ball to shortstop and the throw to second base was too late to put out junior outfielder/pitcher Mary Jane Callahan, and sophomore first base Erin Faircloth scored on the play.
The Panthers got a runner on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but were not able to push across a run.
Game 2
The nightcap saw the Rebels out-hit the Panthers 5-4, but get out-scored 2-0 to snap some both the win streak and the non-conference win streak.
Callahan (10-17) had a streak of her own going, as the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week advanced to 29 consecutive scoreless innings before Birmingham-Southern put up two runs in the top of the sixth to propel the Panthers to the victory. She finished the contest with a complete game, giving up four hits and striking out four with no walks.
Ole Miss had its chances to score all game long, but could not get hits with runners in scoring position. The Rebels left eight runners stranded in the contest.
The Rebels came very close to scoring in the bottom of the second inning when senior Mandy Ott singled to left field and pinch-runner Vanessa Gibbs, who had stolen second after coming in for freshman Michelle May, who had singled, went to third but was called out trying to score despite a wrap-around sliding attempt.
The Rebels had perhaps their best opportunity in the bottom of the fifth when they left the bases loaded after a hit, a walk and an error had filled the bases with two outs.
Ole Miss had one final opportunity in the seventh when Faircloth reached on an error and was replaced at first base after senior Stacy McCommon's fielder's choice before a walk to Callahan gave the Rebels a pair of runners with two outs. Senior Rebecca McIntire flied out to left field to end the game, though.
May went 2-for-3 as the designated player to lead the Rebels at the plate in game two.
Saturday's games at Auburn will have early start times of 10 a.m. and noon, before the two teams close out the regular season with a 1 p.m. matchup on Sunday.
