The University of Mississippi Athletics
Softball Position Preview: Pitchers and Catchers
1/29/2024 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – With the start to the 2024 season on the horizon, OleMissSports.com takes a look at the Rebels' pitching staff and catchers in the first of a three-part series ahead of the season-opener.
Four returning arms in the circle have the Rebels primed for success in 2024. Seniors Aynslie Furbush and Makenna Kliethermes lead the way along with junior Catelyn Riley. Grace Sparks is also back after a solid freshman campaign. Ole Miss also welcomes in Hawaii transfer Brianna Lopez and freshman Hallie Burns, who look to factor into the mix.
One of the Rebels' top arms in the circle last season, Kliethermes is back for her fifth season of eligibility and second in an Ole Miss uniform. Last season, she appeared in a team-high 33 games, posting a 6-6 record along with a 3.59 ERA in 93.2 innings pitched. The Wardsville, Missouri, native also led the team with four saves, tied for the most in a single season in program history, and combined on five of the Rebels' nine shutouts.
Another key returner for the Rebels is two-way star Furbush. Last year, she played in 48 games, making 42 starts in the lineup between pitcher, DP and right field. A versatile player, Furbush led the team with nine wins in the circle and a 2.24 ERA in 87.2 innings pitched while posting a .239 batting average at the plate with 28 hits, including 13 for extra bases. Playing in her final season of eligibility, she looks to make an impact anywhere her name is written on the lineup card.
Riley is back for her junior season, boasting 19 career wins and a 3.26 ERA in 172.0 innings pitched over the last two seasons. Last year, she tossed a team-high 106.2 innings and owned the second-best ERA on the team with a 2.69 mark. One of the go-to arms, Riley was instrumental in the Rebels picking up ranked wins over No. 10 LSU, No. 19 Auburn, No. 15 Kentucky, No. 14 Florida and No. 16 Baylor.
Rounding out the returners is Sparks, who appeared in 22 games, making seven starts in the circle. Last season, she posted a 4-4 record along with a 3.04 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched, including a complete game shutout in an 8-0 win over Missouri State and a career-high 10-strikeout game against UT Martin.
Joining the Rebels' rotation are Lopez and Burns. Lopez joins the Rebels with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Transferring from Hawai'i, she owns a career 2.25 ERA with 30 victories in the circle and a pair of All-Big West honors. Last season, Lopez posted a 16-12 record to go along with a 2.43 ERA in 167.1 innings pitched, including her first career no-hitter on April 1. Burns was a four-year letterwinner at Booneville High School in Booneville, Mississippi, where she earned multiple all-state honors, All-American nods and Mississippi Player of the Year recognitions. As a junior, she was named 3A Pitcher of the Year after posting a 0.34 ERA and 294 strikeouts in 163.0 innings pitched. Burns also helped lead the Blue Devils to their second consecutive state title, earning 3A MVP honors after tossing a no-hitter and hitting a home run in the championship game.
Behind the plate, three catchers give the Rebels plenty of depth. Lexie Brady and Jamie Mackay are back after splitting time last season, and freshman Stella Gidcumb looks to factor into the mix.
Brady is back after a breakout sophomore campaign, appearing in 44 games. She registered a .312 batting average, the second-best on the team while taking out nine runners on the basepaths. She was pivotal down the stretch, tallying multiple hits in seven contests, including a career-best 3-for-3 outing against Baylor to send Ole Miss into the Salt Lake City Regional Final.
Mackay returns to the dish after a freshman season where she made 27 starts behind the plate. The Laguna Beach, California, native posted a .277 batting average on the season and was a steady presence on defense, registering a .987 fielding percentage with only two errors on 151 chances.
Rounding out the catcher position is Gidcumb. A late addition to the squad this January, she was a four-year letterwinner at Buchanan High School and Paso Robles High School in Paso Robles, California. Over the course of her four-year high school career, Gidcumb was a three-time First Team All-League honoree, racking up over 135 hits and 81 RBI.
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 @olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
Four returning arms in the circle have the Rebels primed for success in 2024. Seniors Aynslie Furbush and Makenna Kliethermes lead the way along with junior Catelyn Riley. Grace Sparks is also back after a solid freshman campaign. Ole Miss also welcomes in Hawaii transfer Brianna Lopez and freshman Hallie Burns, who look to factor into the mix.
One of the Rebels' top arms in the circle last season, Kliethermes is back for her fifth season of eligibility and second in an Ole Miss uniform. Last season, she appeared in a team-high 33 games, posting a 6-6 record along with a 3.59 ERA in 93.2 innings pitched. The Wardsville, Missouri, native also led the team with four saves, tied for the most in a single season in program history, and combined on five of the Rebels' nine shutouts.
Another key returner for the Rebels is two-way star Furbush. Last year, she played in 48 games, making 42 starts in the lineup between pitcher, DP and right field. A versatile player, Furbush led the team with nine wins in the circle and a 2.24 ERA in 87.2 innings pitched while posting a .239 batting average at the plate with 28 hits, including 13 for extra bases. Playing in her final season of eligibility, she looks to make an impact anywhere her name is written on the lineup card.
Riley is back for her junior season, boasting 19 career wins and a 3.26 ERA in 172.0 innings pitched over the last two seasons. Last year, she tossed a team-high 106.2 innings and owned the second-best ERA on the team with a 2.69 mark. One of the go-to arms, Riley was instrumental in the Rebels picking up ranked wins over No. 10 LSU, No. 19 Auburn, No. 15 Kentucky, No. 14 Florida and No. 16 Baylor.
Rounding out the returners is Sparks, who appeared in 22 games, making seven starts in the circle. Last season, she posted a 4-4 record along with a 3.04 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched, including a complete game shutout in an 8-0 win over Missouri State and a career-high 10-strikeout game against UT Martin.
Joining the Rebels' rotation are Lopez and Burns. Lopez joins the Rebels with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Transferring from Hawai'i, she owns a career 2.25 ERA with 30 victories in the circle and a pair of All-Big West honors. Last season, Lopez posted a 16-12 record to go along with a 2.43 ERA in 167.1 innings pitched, including her first career no-hitter on April 1. Burns was a four-year letterwinner at Booneville High School in Booneville, Mississippi, where she earned multiple all-state honors, All-American nods and Mississippi Player of the Year recognitions. As a junior, she was named 3A Pitcher of the Year after posting a 0.34 ERA and 294 strikeouts in 163.0 innings pitched. Burns also helped lead the Blue Devils to their second consecutive state title, earning 3A MVP honors after tossing a no-hitter and hitting a home run in the championship game.
Behind the plate, three catchers give the Rebels plenty of depth. Lexie Brady and Jamie Mackay are back after splitting time last season, and freshman Stella Gidcumb looks to factor into the mix.
Brady is back after a breakout sophomore campaign, appearing in 44 games. She registered a .312 batting average, the second-best on the team while taking out nine runners on the basepaths. She was pivotal down the stretch, tallying multiple hits in seven contests, including a career-best 3-for-3 outing against Baylor to send Ole Miss into the Salt Lake City Regional Final.
Mackay returns to the dish after a freshman season where she made 27 starts behind the plate. The Laguna Beach, California, native posted a .277 batting average on the season and was a steady presence on defense, registering a .987 fielding percentage with only two errors on 151 chances.
Rounding out the catcher position is Gidcumb. A late addition to the squad this January, she was a four-year letterwinner at Buchanan High School and Paso Robles High School in Paso Robles, California. Over the course of her four-year high school career, Gidcumb was a three-time First Team All-League honoree, racking up over 135 hits and 81 RBI.
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 @olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
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