The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Softball Welcomes Lady ?Backs This Weekend
4/12/2007 | Softball
Fans are invited to enjoy free pizza courtesy of 3 Guys Pizza of
The Rebels enter the weekend tied with the Florida Gators for fifth in the SEC with an 8-9 league record. The squad improved to 18-24 overall with Wednesday’s non-conference win over the Devilettes.
Head coach Missy Dickerson’s club is poised to accomplish some program firsts with continued strong play in league action. The 8-9 mark is the best through 17 games in school history and just two wins shy of tying the program record of 10 SEC victories in a season (2005 and 2006). The Rebels advanced to their first SEC Tournament with last year’s eighth-place finish, which is the best in program history to date.
Senior team captain Mary Jane Callahan has led the team in pitching and hitting all season. She currently owns a team-best 1.91 ERA and 89 strikeouts in the circle, while also topping the club with a .325 average at the plate.
Coming on strong as of late has been junior lefty and team captain Tara Willitt, who is tied for the team high in wins with an 8-5 mark and is 4-1 with a 2.26 ERA and 27 strikeouts in her last six appearances. She earned the victory with a two-hit shutout and nine K’s against
Freshman third baseman Lauren Grill has been the power bat in the Rebel lineup with 11 home runs, good for second in the SEC. She also ranks in the top 10 in the league in slugging percentage and total bases. Freshman shortstop Ashley Dowdy leads the squad with a .295 average and 10 RBI in league play.
The Lady Backs are led on offense by Jessica Bachkora, who is hitting .314 with nine doubles and 25 runs scored, and Whitney Cloer, batting .301 with five home runs and 23 RBI. Katy Henry tops the pitching staff with 11 wins and 186 strikeouts in 40 appearances.
Ole Miss trails in the all-time series 24-10, but the Rebels have come out on top in six of the last nine tries against
