The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Softball Preview: Pitchers and Catchers
2/4/2019 | Softball
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An In-Depth Look at the Battery for the Rebels in 2019
By Caleb Kelly, Ole Miss Athletics Communications
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As the Rebel softball team nears the start of another exciting season, OleMissSports.com will breakdown each position group. Monday's fourth and final in-depth look features Ole Miss' pitchers and catchers, where a pair of newcomers join six returning players from last season's squad.
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In the circle for the Rebels this season will be senior Brittany Finney (Wichita, Kansas), sophomores Ava Tillmann (Cedartown, Georgia) and Anna Borgen (Heath, Texas) as well as junior transfer Molly Jacobsen (Adel, Iowa) and freshman Savannah Diederich (Hacienda Heights, California). Behind the plate will be junior Autumn Gillespie (Redlands, California), senior Izzy Werdann (Pensacola, Florida) and sophomore Jessica Puk (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).
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A strong candidate for the starting role at first base as well, Finney begins her third season in the circle for Ole Miss after making 13 appearances and 5 starts in 2018 with a 3-2 record. In her 36.0 innings, she recorded 33 strikeouts with only nine walks allowed, posting a 3.50 ERA.
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Following a strong freshman campaign, Tillmann looks to build on her first collegiate season in which she made 24 appearances, including seven starts. Registering a 4-4 record for the year, Tillmann flashed signs of brilliance against some of her toughest competition. Making her first career start, the Georgia native tossed a complete-game shutout over South Carolina, while allowing just a single run on three hits at LSU.
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Another rising sophomore who impressed in her rookie season, Borgen threw 61.0 innings in 23 appearances and 10 starts. The Lone Star State product ranked second on the team with a 2.75 ERA, registering 32 strikeouts to 11 free passes.
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Entering her junior season, Molly Jacobsen begins her first season in Oxford after transferring from Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa, where she earned NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year honors with a dominant 61-6 record in her two seasons. For her JUCO career, Jacobsen threw 333.2 innings of work, tallying up 585 strikeouts for an average of 12.29 per seven innings. A two-time All-American, Jacobsen led the Bears to the NJCAA World Series and a third-place national finish a season ago.
The lone freshman added to the Rebels' pitching arsenal, Diederich was recognized for her talents in the circle with the Los Altos High School Female Athlete of the Year Award. A two-time San Gabriel Valley Softball Player of the Year, the righty posted a 28-3 record as a senior with 151 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA.
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Leading the charge behind the plate will be Gillespie, who put on the mask for 53 starts in 2018 after transferring to Ole Miss from the Rebels' season-opening opponent, UCF. The native Californian led the team with 30 RBIs on the year, scoring another 20 herself. Gillespie racked up 11 extra-base hits, including a team-best seven doubles, for a .386 slugging percentage.
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Providing some talented depth at backstop, Werdann returns for her second and final season at Ole Miss after appearing in 22 games in 2018. A former All-American at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Werdann batted .250 as a junior last season with a pair of runs scored and three RBIs.
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Wrapping up our preview series is Puk, who adds catcher to the myriad of positions Rebel fans may see the sophomore at during the 2019 season. An ultimate utility player who may also be featured in the outfield or up the middle, the Agoura Hills High School product made 42 appearances and eight starts last season.
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For allย Oleย Missย softballย news and information, go toย OleMissSports.comย and follow the Rebels on Twitter atย @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook atย Oleย MissSoftballย and on Instagram atย Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Fans can also follow head coachย Mike Smithย on Twitter atย @msmithsb16.
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ย
As the Rebel softball team nears the start of another exciting season, OleMissSports.com will breakdown each position group. Monday's fourth and final in-depth look features Ole Miss' pitchers and catchers, where a pair of newcomers join six returning players from last season's squad.
ย
In the circle for the Rebels this season will be senior Brittany Finney (Wichita, Kansas), sophomores Ava Tillmann (Cedartown, Georgia) and Anna Borgen (Heath, Texas) as well as junior transfer Molly Jacobsen (Adel, Iowa) and freshman Savannah Diederich (Hacienda Heights, California). Behind the plate will be junior Autumn Gillespie (Redlands, California), senior Izzy Werdann (Pensacola, Florida) and sophomore Jessica Puk (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).
ย
A strong candidate for the starting role at first base as well, Finney begins her third season in the circle for Ole Miss after making 13 appearances and 5 starts in 2018 with a 3-2 record. In her 36.0 innings, she recorded 33 strikeouts with only nine walks allowed, posting a 3.50 ERA.
ย
Following a strong freshman campaign, Tillmann looks to build on her first collegiate season in which she made 24 appearances, including seven starts. Registering a 4-4 record for the year, Tillmann flashed signs of brilliance against some of her toughest competition. Making her first career start, the Georgia native tossed a complete-game shutout over South Carolina, while allowing just a single run on three hits at LSU.
ย
Another rising sophomore who impressed in her rookie season, Borgen threw 61.0 innings in 23 appearances and 10 starts. The Lone Star State product ranked second on the team with a 2.75 ERA, registering 32 strikeouts to 11 free passes.
ย
Entering her junior season, Molly Jacobsen begins her first season in Oxford after transferring from Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa, where she earned NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year honors with a dominant 61-6 record in her two seasons. For her JUCO career, Jacobsen threw 333.2 innings of work, tallying up 585 strikeouts for an average of 12.29 per seven innings. A two-time All-American, Jacobsen led the Bears to the NJCAA World Series and a third-place national finish a season ago.
The lone freshman added to the Rebels' pitching arsenal, Diederich was recognized for her talents in the circle with the Los Altos High School Female Athlete of the Year Award. A two-time San Gabriel Valley Softball Player of the Year, the righty posted a 28-3 record as a senior with 151 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA.
ย
Leading the charge behind the plate will be Gillespie, who put on the mask for 53 starts in 2018 after transferring to Ole Miss from the Rebels' season-opening opponent, UCF. The native Californian led the team with 30 RBIs on the year, scoring another 20 herself. Gillespie racked up 11 extra-base hits, including a team-best seven doubles, for a .386 slugging percentage.
ย
Providing some talented depth at backstop, Werdann returns for her second and final season at Ole Miss after appearing in 22 games in 2018. A former All-American at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Werdann batted .250 as a junior last season with a pair of runs scored and three RBIs.
ย
Wrapping up our preview series is Puk, who adds catcher to the myriad of positions Rebel fans may see the sophomore at during the 2019 season. An ultimate utility player who may also be featured in the outfield or up the middle, the Agoura Hills High School product made 42 appearances and eight starts last season.
ย
For allย Oleย Missย softballย news and information, go toย OleMissSports.comย and follow the Rebels on Twitter atย @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook atย Oleย MissSoftballย and on Instagram atย Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Fans can also follow head coachย Mike Smithย on Twitter atย @msmithsb16.
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Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP/1B
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C/3B
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