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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Softball Opens Season at Easton Invitational
2/9/2017 | Softball
OM Notes - Easton Invitational 
| Tournament Central
Games 1-5
Dates: Feb. 10-12, 2017
First Pitch (Listed in CT): Fri.: 3:30 p.m./8:30 p.m.; Sat.: 1:30 p.m./3:30 p.m.; Sun.: 11:30 a.m.
Opponents: Loyola Marymount, Cal State Fullerton, Pacific, North Dakota State
Location: Fullerton, Calif.
Venue: Anderson Family FieldCapacity: 1,000
Dimensions: L-190, C-200, R-190
TV: Streaming only
FloSoftball.com ($)
Live stats: FullertonTitans.com
Twitter Updates: @OleMissSoftball
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss makes its first appearance in the Easton Invitational this weekend. The Rebels haven't competed in the state of California since the 2012 season, where they played in the Stanford Louisville Slugger Classic in Palo Alto.
- The Rebels enter the 2017 campaign receiving votes in both the NFCA and USA Softball preseason polls.
- 14 letterwinners return from the 2016 team, including 7-of-9 starters. In all, 11 position players who appeared in at least 40 games last season are back this year.
- Ole Miss has a daunting 2017 slate on the horizon, with 10 opponents ranked in one or both of the preseason polls.
- Two of the Rebels' first four opponents -- Cal State Fullerton and North Dakota State -- are receiving votes.
- The trip out west will be a reunion for a number of players and staff, as seven current Rebels hail from California. Head coach Mike Smith is originally from San Diego, and pitching coach Taryne Mowatt is a native of Corona.
- The Rebels are coming off their best season to date after the first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.
- Also for the first time in program history, the Rebels have put together back-to-back winning seasons, claiming a combined 71 victories in the last two years combined.
- The 41 wins in 2016 shattered the previous record of 30 (2015), and the team also set school records in home wins (21), road wins (11), and tied the SEC wins record (11).
- All of this was accomplished with the nation's third-youngest team, and will once again suit up 12-of-24 underclassmen in 2017.
- Junior Elantra Cox, an NFCA All-Region First Team selection, was named a Preseason All-American by College Sports Madness.
SCOUTING REPORT
Loyola Marymount heads into its 2017 campaign coming off a 32-21 record a year ago. The Lions were 10-5 in West Coast Conference play in 2016, earning their first winning season since the 2013 campaign. LMU is led by second-year head coach Sami Strinz-Ward, the 2016 WCC Co-Coach of the year. Under her guidance, the Lions led the country in doubles (106) and doubles per game (2.00). LMU returns four of its top hitters from a year ago, including doubles leader Alicia Brown (.388, 20 2B, .687 slugging), Shianna Ybarra (.337/.539/.375), Amanda Dirks (.329/.638/.351) and Alex Finie (.316/564/.363). The Lions' top two pitchers also return in Rachael Farrington (13-9, 3.15 ERA, 149 IP) and Hannah Bandimere (19-10, 3.17 ERA, 156.2 IP).
The host Titans are coming off a 2016 season in which they won 45 games and claimed their first conference title in 10 years. Led by fifth-year head coach Kelly Ford, Cal State Fullerton was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Big West title after advancing to the NCAA Los Angeles Regional last May, where they defeated Fresno State twice before ending their season to UCLA. The team returns four all-conference selections, including leading hitter Delynn Rippy (.373/.490/.406) and Lexi Gonzalez (.325/.552/.416). The Titans also return the reigning Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year in Sydney Golden (18-6, 1.97 ERA, 138.2 IP) to lead the pitching staff.
Pacific is coming off a 20-25 record in 2016 where they finished 3-12 in the WCC. Led by 25th-year head coach Brian Kolze, the Tigers return All-WCC selection Sydney Lahners (.320/.539/.421) and catcher Rachel Sellers (.354/.577/.418), the team's leading hitter in 2016. The Tigers also return two of their pitchers in Marissa Young (9-9, 3.06 ERA, 107.2 IP) and Cassidy Gustafson (4-7, 4.95 ERA, 76.1 IP).
North Dakota State heads into 2017 receiving votes in the USA Softball Top 25 Preseason Poll after winning 39 games a year ago. The Bison were winners of 39 games last season, advancing to NCAA Regional play in Seattle, where they ended their season to No. 15 Minnesota. Three of the top four hitters from a year ago return, including NFCA All-Region selection Alyssa Reina (.335, 7 HR, 49 RBI). The Bison also return their top two pitchers in Jacquelyn Sertic (24-7, 2.26 ERA, 210.2 IP) and KK Leddy (14-8, 4.14 ERA, 135.1 IP), who were both All-Summit league selections.
OLE MISS PICKED 10th in SEC PRESEASON POLL
Ole Miss was picked 10th in the 2017 Preseason SEC Softball Poll. A year ago, the league's head coaches picked the Rebels 12th in the poll, before they went on to finish ninth with an 11-13 record. Ole Miss shocked the league taking at least one game in 7-of-8 weekend series, including one sweep (Arkansas) and four series wins.
CALIFORNIA REBELS
California is the most represented state on the 2017 roster, with seven Rebels hailing from The Golden State. They include OF Allison Stark (Riverside), SS/2B Grayce Majam (Pine Valley), UT Dylinn Stancil (Temecula), 3B/1B Dakota Matiko (Corona), 2B Bry Castro (Yorba Linda), 1B Alyssa Gonzalez (Chino) and 1B/3B Gabby Alvarez (Riverside).
EXPERIENCE RETURNS FOR 2017 CAMPAIGN
- Despite losing 10 players from last year's team, only two were everyday starters (infielder, pitcher).
- 14 players from last season's squad return, including 7-of-9 starters.
- The Rebels have 11 position players back who appeared in at least 40 games in 2016.
- Despite losing Madi Osias -- winner of 23 games -- to graduation, Ole Miss returns RHP Elisha Jahnke (10 wins, 111.0 IP) and LHP Alyssa Clayton, who was on her way to a stellar season (4-1, 1.60 ERA) before a rib injury in late February ended her season.
- The Rebels return 72% of their at-bats, 75% of run production, 72% of hit production and 75% of RBI production from last year.
NO EASY ROAD IN 2017
Ole Miss enters the 2017 campaign with arguably one of the toughest slates of any team.
- Of 34 opponents on 2017 schedule, 10 are ranked in either or both of preseason top-25 polls.
- Only four other SEC schools have 10 preseason top-25 teams on their schedules (Auburn, Florida, Missouri, Arkansas).
- According to the polls, Ole Miss is the only school in the league that will face a ranked team in all eight SEC weekend series. Furthermore, of the Rebels' eight SEC opponents, none of them are ranked lower than No. 20 in the country.
Outside SEC play, the road early on proves to be tough as well. The Rebels will face both Cal State Fullerton and North Dakota State in California, two teams that are receiving votes. In Houston in week two, Ole Miss' first game is against the defending WCWS Champions, Oklahoma, and in week three in Florida, the Rebels will face South Florida, a team ranked as high as No. 24 in the preseason.
COX NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN BY COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS
The Rebels' leading returning hitter, Elantra Cox, was named a College Sports Madness Fourth Team Preseason All-American. The junior hit .357 in 2016 and is the all-time leader in career average at Ole Miss. An NFCA All-South Region First Team selection a year ago, Cox tallied 61 hits, the sixth-most of any player in a single season. She also hit .377 in SEC play, 10th best in the league, and stole 20 bases, fifth-most of any Rebel player in a season.
ON DECK
The Rebels head west again next week for the Rawlings Classic in Houston, Texas, hosted by the University of Houston. There, Ole Miss will face off against No. 1 Oklahoma in a rematch of the 2016 NCAA Norman Region Final, and also take on the host Cougars, Incarnate Word and Rhode Island.
For all Ole Miss Softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Fans can also follow head coach Mike Smith on Twitter at @msmithsb16. Additionally fans can get a behind the scenes look at Ole Miss Athletics on Snapchat under the handle, @WeAreOleMiss.
