Softball Position Preview: Corner Infielders

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. With the season-opener three days away, OleMissSports.com takes an in-depth look at the Rebels corner infielders.

The Rebels return two experienced first basemen for the 2021 season in Gabby Alvarez and Sydney Gutierrez. Combining for 146 games played, the two seniors will take freshman Aynslie Furbush under their wing.

Alvarez appeared in 21 games a year ago, making 18 starts between first base and DP. The Riverside, California, product boasted a .991 fielding percentage, committing only one error in 108 opportunities. Offensively, she finished the season with a .178 batting average, driving in six runs with one additional run scored. Additionally, Alvarez is one of five returners with 100 or more games played under their belt.

Gutierrez earned the start at first in the final 11 games of the shortened 2020 season. In total, she played in 23 games, making 13 starts. Gutierrez posted a .317 batting average with a .439 slugging percentage and drove in eight runs. The senior from Pearland, Texas, was also sound defensively, recording a perfect fielding percentage in 78 chances. She looks to battle with Alvarez for the starting job.

Furbush adds extra depth at first base for the Rebels. A two-way player from Longwood, Florida, the freshman batted .328 with 29 RBIs and 13 homers as a junior at Winter Springs high school, while posting 1.10 ERA with a perfect 16-0 record and 105 strikeouts on the rubber. Heading into the 2021 season, Furbush checked in at No. 16 on Softball America's Top-25 Freshmen rankings.

Ole Miss also has plenty of options at third base between three-year starter Amanda Roth, sophomore standout Paige Smith and senior Kacey Hvitved.

Roth returns veteran experience to third base as one of three current Rebels with over 100 career starts. Last season, she started 22 of 23 games at the hot corner, batting .178 with a .333 slugging percentage and a .327 OBP. The senior from Carrollton, Texas, crushed half of her hits for extra bases, including a pair of doubles, a triple and a home run. Defensively, Roth helped tally 47 outs with a .887 fielding percentage.

Smith primarily played second base in the shortened 2020 season, starting 24 of 25 games at the position and looks to also be a viable option for the Rebels at the hot corner. As a freshman, Smith helped control the middle of the infield with a .953 fielding percentage. She also batted .242 with a .387 slugging percentage and a .368 OBP. The California native also showed off her power, recording three double and a pair of homers to go along with 11 RBIs and seven runs scored.

Hvitved rounds out the group of potential third basemen. She appeared in 13 games last season for the Rebels, making a pair of starts at third. As a pinch-hitter, Hvitved drove in six runs and scored four more, including a walk-off grand slam against Jackson State.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Gabby Alvarez

Aynslie Furbush

Sydney Gutierrez

Kacey Hvitved

Amanda Roth

Paige Smith

The University of Mississippi Athletics