The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, March 8
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
vs
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Mississippi State
Softball Hosts No. 17 Mississippi State for Opening Weekend of SEC Play
3/7/2024 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – Opening SEC play in Oxford, Ole Miss Softball welcomes in-state rival No. 17 Mississippi State to town for a three-game series March 8-10.
LEADING OFF
• Friday's contest will mark the 80th meeting between the two programs. MSU holds a 46-33 edge in the all-time series.
• The Rebels head into SEC play with a 15-5 overall record, the second best start to the season under head coach Jamie Trachsel in her time at Ole Miss.
• One of the most electric players on the diamond, Jalia Lassiter leads the SEC with 13 stolen bases and ranks third in the conference with 28 hits.
• As an offense, the Rebels are batting .321, the fifth best mark in the SEC and 38th best in the country. They have tallied 10+ hits in eight of the first 20 games this season.
• The Ole Miss pitching staff combined to throw six shutouts, the 13th most nationally. Four of those shutouts for the Rebels have come in the last week.
• Senior Makenna Kliethermes has looked sharp for the Rebels in the circle. She leads the team with a 7-1 record and 48 strikeouts through 41.1 innings pitched.
• Ole Miss' coaching staff features three new faces. Daniel Nicolaisen, Karl Gollan and DJ Sanders all join the Rebels for their first season in Oxford.
• The Ole Miss Softball Complex is in the midst of a $32 million stadium project, set to be completed by the 2025 season, as part of Ole Miss' Champions. Now. Campaign.
• Fifth-year senior Paige Smith is making a run at the all-time Ole Miss runs batted in record. With 149, she stands just 18 RBI shy of passing Abbey Latham for the crown.
SCOUTING MSU
Samantha Ricketts is in her fifth year as head coach at Mississippi State, already with a Super Regional appearance under her belt back in 2022. The Bulldogs have had a hot start to their 2024 campaign, boasting a 17-3 overall record through non-conference play, wins over No. 8 Clemson, No. 13 Utah and a pair over No. 23 Louisiana. MSU is coming off a perfect 6-0 weekend at their own Bulldog Invitational. Heading into the opening weekend of SEC play, Mississippi State is ranked in all four major polls, checking in as high as No. 17 according to D1 Softball. Friday's matchup will be the 80th all-time meeting between the in-state rivals. Mississippi State leads the series 46-33, winning each of the last four games, including sweeping the last series in Starkville in 2022.
Mississippi State's lineup hits a combined .362 at the plate, ranking ninth nationally. Junior outfielder Sierra Sacco, who was a 2023 First Team All-Conference USA selection at Louisiana Tech last season, is one of the top bats in the Bulldog, hitting. .391 so far this season. In addition to boasting one of the top offenses in the country, MSU also owns a top 10 ERA with a 1.57 mark led by Josey Marron in the circle, who has a perfect 7-0 record while pitching a team-high 40.0 innings, and Week 2 SEC Pitcher of the Week Aspen Wesley.
BUILDING SOMETHING SPECIAL
One of the most exciting things fans and student-athletes have to look forward to in 2024 is a brand new softball stadium as part of Ole Miss' Champions. Now. Campaign. This past May, the Ole Miss Softball Complex, which served as the Rebels' home field since 1998 and has seen one SEC Tournament, two NCAA Regionals and countless other memories, saw its final game ever as the Rebels walked off No. 14 Alabama with a four-spot in the bottom of the seventh inning. Just 23 days later, construction crews began demolition on the ballpark as part of a brand new $32 million facility upgrade. The Ole Miss Softball Stadium renovations will include numerous fan amenities, upgraded grandstands, restrooms and concessions. The team will also benefit from enlarged bullpens, as well as improved team offices, locker rooms and storage.
TRIPLE THREAT
One of the most consistent parts of the Ole Miss lineup is left fielder Jaden Pone. Reaching base any way she can, the junior is a triple threat at the plate with the ability to bunt, slap and swing away. Pone leads the team with a .418 batting average and .522 on-base percentage. A key addition to the Rebel offense, she also ranks second in hits with 23 and has reached base safely in each of her last 16 games. Although this is her first season in Oxford, Pone is no stranger to success at the plate. She ranks among the nation's best, boasting a .413 career batting average, the ninth best mark among active players in Division I.
LEADOFF LASSITER
After capping off her rookie campaign with NFCA All-South Region Third Team Honors, Jalia Lassiter is proving to be one of the most electric players in the SEC. Just a sophomore, the Atmore, Alabama, native brings a different level of energy to the diamond with her game-changing speed, swagger and confidence. Hitting in the leadoff spot, she ranks third on the team with a .389 mark at the plate and leads the Rebels with 28 hits (26th nationally) so far this season. Lassiter has tallied multiple hits in nine contests and has reached base in all but two.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
Racking up 170 hits through the first 20 games of the season, Ole Miss' offense has been firing on all cylinders. The Rebels boast a .321 batting average as a team, the fifth best mark in the SEC and 38th best nationally. Led by Jaden Pone and Aynslie Furbush, who both are hitting over .400. Further, the Rebels have recorded at least 10 hits in eight of their 20 contests so far this season, including 17 against Miami (OH) at the Clemson Classic, the most in the Trachsel Era and the third most by an SEC team this season.
Not only are the Rebels seeing the ball fly off the bat, but they are showing patience at the plate, drawing 77 walks (17th nationally) to boast the 19th best on-base percentage in all of Division I softball at .424.
RETURN OF THE MAK
One of the Rebels' top arms in the circle last season, Makenna Kliethermes, is back for her fifth year of eligibility and is on a tear in 2024. Through non-conference play to start the season, she boasts a 7-1 record, good for 23rd nationally. The Wardsville, Missouri, native has gone the distance in three of her victories while holding batters to a .181 mark at the plate and racking up 48 strikeouts (65th in the country) in 41.1 innings of work.
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.
LEADING OFF
• Friday's contest will mark the 80th meeting between the two programs. MSU holds a 46-33 edge in the all-time series.
• The Rebels head into SEC play with a 15-5 overall record, the second best start to the season under head coach Jamie Trachsel in her time at Ole Miss.
• One of the most electric players on the diamond, Jalia Lassiter leads the SEC with 13 stolen bases and ranks third in the conference with 28 hits.
• As an offense, the Rebels are batting .321, the fifth best mark in the SEC and 38th best in the country. They have tallied 10+ hits in eight of the first 20 games this season.
• The Ole Miss pitching staff combined to throw six shutouts, the 13th most nationally. Four of those shutouts for the Rebels have come in the last week.
• Senior Makenna Kliethermes has looked sharp for the Rebels in the circle. She leads the team with a 7-1 record and 48 strikeouts through 41.1 innings pitched.
• Ole Miss' coaching staff features three new faces. Daniel Nicolaisen, Karl Gollan and DJ Sanders all join the Rebels for their first season in Oxford.
• The Ole Miss Softball Complex is in the midst of a $32 million stadium project, set to be completed by the 2025 season, as part of Ole Miss' Champions. Now. Campaign.
• Fifth-year senior Paige Smith is making a run at the all-time Ole Miss runs batted in record. With 149, she stands just 18 RBI shy of passing Abbey Latham for the crown.
SCOUTING MSU
Samantha Ricketts is in her fifth year as head coach at Mississippi State, already with a Super Regional appearance under her belt back in 2022. The Bulldogs have had a hot start to their 2024 campaign, boasting a 17-3 overall record through non-conference play, wins over No. 8 Clemson, No. 13 Utah and a pair over No. 23 Louisiana. MSU is coming off a perfect 6-0 weekend at their own Bulldog Invitational. Heading into the opening weekend of SEC play, Mississippi State is ranked in all four major polls, checking in as high as No. 17 according to D1 Softball. Friday's matchup will be the 80th all-time meeting between the in-state rivals. Mississippi State leads the series 46-33, winning each of the last four games, including sweeping the last series in Starkville in 2022.
Mississippi State's lineup hits a combined .362 at the plate, ranking ninth nationally. Junior outfielder Sierra Sacco, who was a 2023 First Team All-Conference USA selection at Louisiana Tech last season, is one of the top bats in the Bulldog, hitting. .391 so far this season. In addition to boasting one of the top offenses in the country, MSU also owns a top 10 ERA with a 1.57 mark led by Josey Marron in the circle, who has a perfect 7-0 record while pitching a team-high 40.0 innings, and Week 2 SEC Pitcher of the Week Aspen Wesley.
BUILDING SOMETHING SPECIAL
One of the most exciting things fans and student-athletes have to look forward to in 2024 is a brand new softball stadium as part of Ole Miss' Champions. Now. Campaign. This past May, the Ole Miss Softball Complex, which served as the Rebels' home field since 1998 and has seen one SEC Tournament, two NCAA Regionals and countless other memories, saw its final game ever as the Rebels walked off No. 14 Alabama with a four-spot in the bottom of the seventh inning. Just 23 days later, construction crews began demolition on the ballpark as part of a brand new $32 million facility upgrade. The Ole Miss Softball Stadium renovations will include numerous fan amenities, upgraded grandstands, restrooms and concessions. The team will also benefit from enlarged bullpens, as well as improved team offices, locker rooms and storage.
TRIPLE THREAT
One of the most consistent parts of the Ole Miss lineup is left fielder Jaden Pone. Reaching base any way she can, the junior is a triple threat at the plate with the ability to bunt, slap and swing away. Pone leads the team with a .418 batting average and .522 on-base percentage. A key addition to the Rebel offense, she also ranks second in hits with 23 and has reached base safely in each of her last 16 games. Although this is her first season in Oxford, Pone is no stranger to success at the plate. She ranks among the nation's best, boasting a .413 career batting average, the ninth best mark among active players in Division I.
LEADOFF LASSITER
After capping off her rookie campaign with NFCA All-South Region Third Team Honors, Jalia Lassiter is proving to be one of the most electric players in the SEC. Just a sophomore, the Atmore, Alabama, native brings a different level of energy to the diamond with her game-changing speed, swagger and confidence. Hitting in the leadoff spot, she ranks third on the team with a .389 mark at the plate and leads the Rebels with 28 hits (26th nationally) so far this season. Lassiter has tallied multiple hits in nine contests and has reached base in all but two.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
Racking up 170 hits through the first 20 games of the season, Ole Miss' offense has been firing on all cylinders. The Rebels boast a .321 batting average as a team, the fifth best mark in the SEC and 38th best nationally. Led by Jaden Pone and Aynslie Furbush, who both are hitting over .400. Further, the Rebels have recorded at least 10 hits in eight of their 20 contests so far this season, including 17 against Miami (OH) at the Clemson Classic, the most in the Trachsel Era and the third most by an SEC team this season.
Not only are the Rebels seeing the ball fly off the bat, but they are showing patience at the plate, drawing 77 walks (17th nationally) to boast the 19th best on-base percentage in all of Division I softball at .424.
RETURN OF THE MAK
One of the Rebels' top arms in the circle last season, Makenna Kliethermes, is back for her fifth year of eligibility and is on a tear in 2024. Through non-conference play to start the season, she boasts a 7-1 record, good for 23rd nationally. The Wardsville, Missouri, native has gone the distance in three of her victories while holding batters to a .181 mark at the plate and racking up 48 strikeouts (65th in the country) in 41.1 innings of work.
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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