Ole Miss Softball Sweeps SEC Doubleheader At Auburn

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Ole Miss	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	3	3
Auburn	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	7	1

AUBURN, Ala.  - Ole Miss continued its strong play in Southeastern Conference action with a doubleheader sweep of the Auburn Tigers on Saturday, winning 3-2 and 4-2 at the Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn.

With the wins, Ole Miss improves to 12-16 overall and 4-3 in SEC play, while Auburn drops to 13-17 overall and 2-5 in league action.

“These two wins are a great accomplishment for us, especially being away from home,” said Ole Miss head coach Missy Dickerson. “I thought Mary Jane (Callahan) and Tara (Willitt) both pitched great games today, and Becky (Nye) did a good job in relief in the second game. I was proud that we never let up when we got down in the second game, and we fought back and fought back through our mistakes.”   Freshman shortstop Ashley Dowdy knocked a three-run triple to left field in the fifth inning to propel Ole Miss to a 3-2 victory in game one. The Rebels had just three hits in the contest, but tied a season high with eight walks. Ole Miss had at least one runner on base in every inning except for the second, but only scored in the fifth and left eight runners on base for the game.   Senior left-hander Mary Jane Callahan (8-5) earned her team-leading eighth win of the year as she went the full seven innings and scattered seven hits, allowing two runs and striking out five.   Auburn freshman starter Anna Thompson (8-8) took the loss as she allowed three runs on two hits in 4 2-3 innings. She surrendered a career-high seven walks and struck out six in the losing effort.          The Rebels gave Auburn a serious threat in the top of the first when they loaded the bases after walks by Lisa Conchos, Callahan and Dowdy. With two outs, Thompson fanned Amber Tramp on a 3-2 pitch to get out of the jam.   Ole Miss again threatened in the third by getting two on with one out. Emily Sarver led off the frame with a double to right-center. After one down Lauren Grill walked, but the next two batters both popped up to shortstop to again keep the Rebels scoreless.   The Rebels once again loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth, but this time came away with Dowdy’s three-run triple to take a 3-0 lead. Lauren Rowe led off the frame with a walk. After two outs, Grill reached on an error by the Auburn second baseman which would have ended the inning. The Tigers intentionally walked Callahan to get to Dowdy, and she made them pay with a rope past a diving Brittany Scott in left to break the scoreless tie.   "Whenever the person in front of you gets walked, you want to make sure you come through in the clutch," Dickerson said. "Dowdy did that, and it was just amazing."   Auburn answered with two scores in the bottom of the frame to cut the Rebel lead to 3-2. The Tigers started the inning with back-to-back singles by Ashley Arcuri and Scott, and both runners came around to score after a sacrifice, a Rebel error and a Tatiana Fernandez fly to right field that Sarver lost in the sun as it dropped in for a single.   Just like the first four innings, the last two featured plenty of baserunners for both teams, but only zeroes on the scoreboard as Ole Miss held on for the 3-2 victory.
Game 2
In game two, Tara Willitt (4-2) went five innings and scattered eight hits, allowing two runs with five strikeouts to earn the win. Becky Nye got her third save of the year with two shutout innings to close the contest.   Emily Sarver and Lauren Rowe each tallied two hits in the contest, while Mary Jane Callahan had two RBI.   Auburn got out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a two-run home run by Tatiana Fernandez over the left-field wall.   The Tigers threatened again in the bottom of the second by loading the bases with two outs, but Willitt got three-hole hitter Holly Currie to pop up to Ashley Dowdy at shortstop and end the threat.   Ole Miss strung together three straight hits in the third to tie the game at 2-2. With one out, Rowe singled to right field before Sarver brought her in with a triple over the left fielder’s head. Rowe scored despite stumbling and falling twice on her way home and having to stretch out on her belly to touch the plate. The next batter, Lisa Conchos, drove in Sarver with a single just over the third base bag to tie the game.   Ole Miss pushed the lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth when Callahan drilled a double down the left-field line on a 3-2 pitch with two outs  and the bases loaded, scoring Alise Doubt, who pinch ran for Rowe after her double, and Sarver, who had earlier reached on an infield single.   Auburn gave Ole Miss a scare in the bottom of the sixth. After Willitt surrendered back-to-back singles to open the frame, Nye came in and got two strikeouts and a groundout to shut down the Tigers and preserve the Rebels’ two-run advantage.   Ole Miss and Auburn close out the series with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday.

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Team Stats

Emily Sarver

Mary Jane Callahan

Ashley Dowdy

Conchos L

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