The University of Mississippi Athletics
Softball Position Preview: Pitchers and Catchers
2/8/2021 | Softball
An In-Depth Look in the Circle and Behind the Plate
OXFORD, Miss. – A new era of Ole Miss softball begins this week as the Rebels open their season at the Trojan Classic in Troy, Alabama. In the first of a four-part series, OleMissSports.com takes a look at the Rebels pitching staff and corps of catchers ahead of the season-opener.
Seniors Anna Borgen and Ava Tillmann look to lead the Rebels in the circle. Also returning to the rotation are junior Savannah Diederich and senior Lindsey Johnson. Ole Miss also welcomes two new faces to the position in Landyn Bruce and Aynslie Furbush.
Borgen made nine appearances in the circle during the shortened 2020 season, posting five starts with 33.0 total innings of work. She registered a team-low 1.27 ERA, earning a 4-1 record. The Heath, Texas, native also pitched three complete-game shutouts. Borgen tallied 24 strikeouts to just eight walks, while holding opposing batters to a .215 average. The senior looks to build upon her success from a year ago as she anchors the Rebels pitching staff.
Before the season was cut short, Tillmann made a team-high 15 appearances in the circle, including four starts, posting a 2.54 ERA. The senior racked up 23 strikeouts in 30.1 innings pitched, finishing with a 3-3 record and a pair of saves. In her best outing a year ago, she pitched a one-hit shutout against Jackson State.
Diederich, who started five games in 2020, will also play a key role for the Rebels this season. In her sophomore season, she appeared in the circle nine times, striking out 19 batters, while posting a 4.31 ERA in 26.0 innings of work. With a full fall and offseason under her belt, Diederich is looking to make the jump and become one of the top Rebel arms.
Rounding out the returners is Johnson, who made her lone appearance last season with four relief innings against No. 7 Louisiana. She surrendered a pair of hits in the outing and struck out three batters. A senior from Wetumpka, Alabama, Johnson began her playing career at William Carey before transferring to Ole Miss. With the Crusaders, she earned All-South Region and First Team All-SSAC honors in both seasons.
Joining the Rebels rotation are highly touted freshmen Bruce and Furbush. Bruce comes to Ole Miss by way of Temecula, California. Before her senior season was canceled, she owned a 3-1 record with a 0.99 ERA at Great Oak High School, striking out 35 in 27 innings of work. Furbush, on the other hand, joins the Rebels from Longwood, Florida, where she was a MaxPreps Junior All-American and 2019 FACA 8A Player of the Year. A two-way player, Furbush batted .328 with 29 RBIs and 13 homers as a junior, while posting 1.10 ERA with a perfect 16-0 record and 105 strikeouts on the rubber. Prior to the start of the 2021 season, she checked in at No. 16 on Softball America's Top-25 Freshmen rankings.
The Rebels are loaded with depth behind the plate heading into 2021. Autumn Gillespie will lead the team as one of the top returning catchers in the country. Also available at the position are a talented duo of utility players in Jessica Puk and Mac Barbara.
Back for a fourth season in Red and Navy and taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility is Gillespie. She returns to Ole Miss as one of the most experienced back stops in the nation. After transferring from UCF, the California native has started 137 games for the Rebels, primarily behind the dish. The senior recorded a perfect fielding percentage behind the plate and caught four runners stealing. Gillespie was also an offensive force for the Rebels, leading the team with five home runs, 21 runs, 17 walks and a .651 slugging percentage, while ranking second with a .349 batting average and .512 on base percentage.
A true jack of all trades with experience all around the diamond, Puk is another Rebel with experience behind the plate. Seeing her fair share of action at catcher and in the infield, Puk spent the bulk of her time in the field in left and right field, ultimately starting all 25 games. The senior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, batted .324 a year ago with seven extra-base hits and a team-best 16 RBIs.
Rounding out the catcher position is Barbara. She appeared in 12 games in her freshman season, making four starts. Another well-versed utility player, Barbara, also plays in the infield. Mostly coming in in pinch-hitting spots, the rookie registered one hit, one walk and one run scored in 2020.
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. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
Seniors Anna Borgen and Ava Tillmann look to lead the Rebels in the circle. Also returning to the rotation are junior Savannah Diederich and senior Lindsey Johnson. Ole Miss also welcomes two new faces to the position in Landyn Bruce and Aynslie Furbush.
Borgen made nine appearances in the circle during the shortened 2020 season, posting five starts with 33.0 total innings of work. She registered a team-low 1.27 ERA, earning a 4-1 record. The Heath, Texas, native also pitched three complete-game shutouts. Borgen tallied 24 strikeouts to just eight walks, while holding opposing batters to a .215 average. The senior looks to build upon her success from a year ago as she anchors the Rebels pitching staff.
Before the season was cut short, Tillmann made a team-high 15 appearances in the circle, including four starts, posting a 2.54 ERA. The senior racked up 23 strikeouts in 30.1 innings pitched, finishing with a 3-3 record and a pair of saves. In her best outing a year ago, she pitched a one-hit shutout against Jackson State.
Diederich, who started five games in 2020, will also play a key role for the Rebels this season. In her sophomore season, she appeared in the circle nine times, striking out 19 batters, while posting a 4.31 ERA in 26.0 innings of work. With a full fall and offseason under her belt, Diederich is looking to make the jump and become one of the top Rebel arms.
Rounding out the returners is Johnson, who made her lone appearance last season with four relief innings against No. 7 Louisiana. She surrendered a pair of hits in the outing and struck out three batters. A senior from Wetumpka, Alabama, Johnson began her playing career at William Carey before transferring to Ole Miss. With the Crusaders, she earned All-South Region and First Team All-SSAC honors in both seasons.
Joining the Rebels rotation are highly touted freshmen Bruce and Furbush. Bruce comes to Ole Miss by way of Temecula, California. Before her senior season was canceled, she owned a 3-1 record with a 0.99 ERA at Great Oak High School, striking out 35 in 27 innings of work. Furbush, on the other hand, joins the Rebels from Longwood, Florida, where she was a MaxPreps Junior All-American and 2019 FACA 8A Player of the Year. A two-way player, Furbush batted .328 with 29 RBIs and 13 homers as a junior, while posting 1.10 ERA with a perfect 16-0 record and 105 strikeouts on the rubber. Prior to the start of the 2021 season, she checked in at No. 16 on Softball America's Top-25 Freshmen rankings.
The Rebels are loaded with depth behind the plate heading into 2021. Autumn Gillespie will lead the team as one of the top returning catchers in the country. Also available at the position are a talented duo of utility players in Jessica Puk and Mac Barbara.
Back for a fourth season in Red and Navy and taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility is Gillespie. She returns to Ole Miss as one of the most experienced back stops in the nation. After transferring from UCF, the California native has started 137 games for the Rebels, primarily behind the dish. The senior recorded a perfect fielding percentage behind the plate and caught four runners stealing. Gillespie was also an offensive force for the Rebels, leading the team with five home runs, 21 runs, 17 walks and a .651 slugging percentage, while ranking second with a .349 batting average and .512 on base percentage.
A true jack of all trades with experience all around the diamond, Puk is another Rebel with experience behind the plate. Seeing her fair share of action at catcher and in the infield, Puk spent the bulk of her time in the field in left and right field, ultimately starting all 25 games. The senior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, batted .324 a year ago with seven extra-base hits and a team-best 16 RBIs.
Rounding out the catcher position is Barbara. She appeared in 12 games in her freshman season, making four starts. Another well-versed utility player, Barbara, also plays in the infield. Mostly coming in in pinch-hitting spots, the rookie registered one hit, one walk and one run scored in 2020.
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. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
Players Mentioned
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