The University of Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, April 16
Oxford, Miss.
3 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Louisiana Tech
Softball Hosts Louisiana Tech in Midweek Doubleheader
4/15/2024 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – After the original contest in Ruston was postponed due to severe weather, Ole Miss and Louisiana Tech are finally set to square off on the diamond on Tuesday, April 16, with a midweek doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. CT at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
LEADING OFF
• The Rebels grabbed a series win over the weekend against Western Kentucky, recording back-to-back walk-off run-rule victories.
• Ole Miss leads the all-time series with Louisiana Tech 10-4, including winning each of the last six games against the Bulldogs.
• In her last four at-bats, Aynslie Furbush has launched three home runs, including a pair of grand slams. Her 11 RBI over the weekend were the most by any player in the SEC.
• The Rebels boast the 25th-best strength of schedule in the nation.
• Ole Miss has tallied double-digit hits in 14 contests so far this year, matching their total from the 2023 regular season.
• Lexie Brady has blasted 11 home runs this season, the eighth most in the SEC. The junior is now four shy of the Ole Miss single-season program record.
• Fifth-year senior Paige Smith ranks among the top 10 in program history in 10 different categories. She is also knocking on the door of the top 10 in hits, just three away from tying DeDe Justinve (2002-05) with 185.
• One of the most electric players on the diamond, Jalia Lassiter ranks third in the SEC with 16 stolen bases and 12th in the conference with 46 hits. She is six away from 100 hits in her career.
• Ole Miss earned its highest-ranked series victory in program history last month, taking two games from No. 2 LSU in Baton Rouge.
SCOUTING LA TECH
Leading Louisiana Tech in only his third season, Josh Taylor is knocking on the door of 100 wins with the Bulldogs. His 2024 squad is off to one of the program's best starts in history, with a 26-12 record and a 9-6 mark in Conference USA play. Louisiana Tech has yet to secure a win over an SEC opponent this season, falling to Auburn in a pair of contests at the War Eagle Classic and No. 4 LSU earlier in the season. They do however have Power Five victories over Illinois and Georgia Tech. Ole Miss leads the all-time series with Louisiana Tech 10-4 and has won each of the last five meetings dating back to the 2011 season. On the offense, the Bulldogs are led by Alexis Gilio. The outfielder is hitting .400 on the season so far, with a team-best 46 hits. Infielder Caroline Easom also plays a large role in the offense, with 39 hits and 23 RBI. As a team, Louisiana Tech is batting .279 through 38 games. In the circle, Allie Foyd paces the team with a 2.31 ERA and a 12-4 record through 106.0 innings pitched. Brook Melnychuk has also seen her fair share of innings, posting a 2.80 ERA to go along with nine victories.
BOOT SHOPPING
So far in 2024, Ole Miss has had success against Louisiana teams. The Rebels split their games with Southeastern Louisiana at the Ole Miss Classic in the home opener and went 4-1 over their spring break on a Louisiana road trip, sweeping a midweek doubleheader with Nicholls State and taking the series from No. 2 LSU. As the team prepares to host Louisiana Tech, they look to continue their winning ways against teams from the Boot.
AIN'T IT GRAND?
On Saturday and Sunday, the Rebels found themselves in a familiar position in the first inning with the bases loaded and Aynslie Furbush at the dish. The senior launched grand slams in back-to-back games to lift Ole Miss past Western Kentucky, driving in 11 total runs on the weekend. It shouldn't come as a surprise, as Furbush is no stranger to the moment. As a freshman, she became the first Rebel ever to register a grand slam with her first hit and needed just three career at-bats to become the fifth player in program history with multiple grand slams in a career. After adding two more to her total this weekend, Furbush has the most grand slams in program history.
TOPPED
In its bye week from SEC play, Ole Miss softball picked up a big non-conference victory over Western Kentucky. The Rebels responded after a tough loss on Friday night, in which their seventh-inning rally fell short, to run-rule the Hilltoppers in back-to-back games to secure the series. The offense came alive, scoring 23 runs on 23 hits over the final two games, marking the first time Ole Miss has scored double digits in consecutive games this season.
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
Playing her fifth season in an Ole Miss uniform, senior Paige Smith continues to leave her mark on the record book. The Corona, California, native has started 245 career games in a Rebel uniform, the second-most all-time. Smith also finds herself in the top-10 in program history in doubles (tied for first, 42) RBI (second, 154), home runs (fourth, 36), total bases (fourth, 334), walks (sixth, 76), runs (ninth, 116) and slugging percentage (ninth, .464).
DON'T RUN ON LEXIE
Not only is Lexie Brady an offensive weapon, but she is a general behind the plate. She leads the SEC and ranks 10th in the country with 12 runners caught stealing. She also boasts a perfect fielding percentage with 205 putouts and 20 assists.
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST
Playing her fourth and final season in an Ole Miss uniform, Aynslie Furbush is having the best year of her career. A two-way player, she stars for the Rebels in the circle and the batter's box, always finding a way to impact the game. In 2024, Furbush already has 36 hits, the most she's tallied in a single season of her career while leading the team with a .350 average at the plate.
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
• The Rebels grabbed a series win over the weekend against Western Kentucky, recording back-to-back walk-off run-rule victories.
• Ole Miss leads the all-time series with Louisiana Tech 10-4, including winning each of the last six games against the Bulldogs.
• In her last four at-bats, Aynslie Furbush has launched three home runs, including a pair of grand slams. Her 11 RBI over the weekend were the most by any player in the SEC.
• The Rebels boast the 25th-best strength of schedule in the nation.
• Ole Miss has tallied double-digit hits in 14 contests so far this year, matching their total from the 2023 regular season.
• Lexie Brady has blasted 11 home runs this season, the eighth most in the SEC. The junior is now four shy of the Ole Miss single-season program record.
• Fifth-year senior Paige Smith ranks among the top 10 in program history in 10 different categories. She is also knocking on the door of the top 10 in hits, just three away from tying DeDe Justinve (2002-05) with 185.
• One of the most electric players on the diamond, Jalia Lassiter ranks third in the SEC with 16 stolen bases and 12th in the conference with 46 hits. She is six away from 100 hits in her career.
• Ole Miss earned its highest-ranked series victory in program history last month, taking two games from No. 2 LSU in Baton Rouge.
SCOUTING LA TECH
Leading Louisiana Tech in only his third season, Josh Taylor is knocking on the door of 100 wins with the Bulldogs. His 2024 squad is off to one of the program's best starts in history, with a 26-12 record and a 9-6 mark in Conference USA play. Louisiana Tech has yet to secure a win over an SEC opponent this season, falling to Auburn in a pair of contests at the War Eagle Classic and No. 4 LSU earlier in the season. They do however have Power Five victories over Illinois and Georgia Tech. Ole Miss leads the all-time series with Louisiana Tech 10-4 and has won each of the last five meetings dating back to the 2011 season. On the offense, the Bulldogs are led by Alexis Gilio. The outfielder is hitting .400 on the season so far, with a team-best 46 hits. Infielder Caroline Easom also plays a large role in the offense, with 39 hits and 23 RBI. As a team, Louisiana Tech is batting .279 through 38 games. In the circle, Allie Foyd paces the team with a 2.31 ERA and a 12-4 record through 106.0 innings pitched. Brook Melnychuk has also seen her fair share of innings, posting a 2.80 ERA to go along with nine victories.
BOOT SHOPPING
So far in 2024, Ole Miss has had success against Louisiana teams. The Rebels split their games with Southeastern Louisiana at the Ole Miss Classic in the home opener and went 4-1 over their spring break on a Louisiana road trip, sweeping a midweek doubleheader with Nicholls State and taking the series from No. 2 LSU. As the team prepares to host Louisiana Tech, they look to continue their winning ways against teams from the Boot.
AIN'T IT GRAND?
On Saturday and Sunday, the Rebels found themselves in a familiar position in the first inning with the bases loaded and Aynslie Furbush at the dish. The senior launched grand slams in back-to-back games to lift Ole Miss past Western Kentucky, driving in 11 total runs on the weekend. It shouldn't come as a surprise, as Furbush is no stranger to the moment. As a freshman, she became the first Rebel ever to register a grand slam with her first hit and needed just three career at-bats to become the fifth player in program history with multiple grand slams in a career. After adding two more to her total this weekend, Furbush has the most grand slams in program history.
TOPPED
In its bye week from SEC play, Ole Miss softball picked up a big non-conference victory over Western Kentucky. The Rebels responded after a tough loss on Friday night, in which their seventh-inning rally fell short, to run-rule the Hilltoppers in back-to-back games to secure the series. The offense came alive, scoring 23 runs on 23 hits over the final two games, marking the first time Ole Miss has scored double digits in consecutive games this season.
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
Playing her fifth season in an Ole Miss uniform, senior Paige Smith continues to leave her mark on the record book. The Corona, California, native has started 245 career games in a Rebel uniform, the second-most all-time. Smith also finds herself in the top-10 in program history in doubles (tied for first, 42) RBI (second, 154), home runs (fourth, 36), total bases (fourth, 334), walks (sixth, 76), runs (ninth, 116) and slugging percentage (ninth, .464).
DON'T RUN ON LEXIE
Not only is Lexie Brady an offensive weapon, but she is a general behind the plate. She leads the SEC and ranks 10th in the country with 12 runners caught stealing. She also boasts a perfect fielding percentage with 205 putouts and 20 assists.
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST
Playing her fourth and final season in an Ole Miss uniform, Aynslie Furbush is having the best year of her career. A two-way player, she stars for the Rebels in the circle and the batter's box, always finding a way to impact the game. In 2024, Furbush already has 36 hits, the most she's tallied in a single season of her career while leading the team with a .350 average at the plate.
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.
Players Mentioned
C/UT
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
INF
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