Rebels Softball Steps Back into Conference Action at Alabama

Photo by Steven Gagliano

Ole Miss softball returns to the diamond this weekend as they hit the road and take on Alabama in Tuscaloosa in a three-game series tilt.

Ole Miss is looking to bounce back from a 9-3 road defeat at Memphis on Tuesday. The bottom of Ole Miss order was in form against the Tigers, with the 7-9 hitters going five for eight in the ball game. Coming into the contest, the Rebels have a .242 average from the 7-9 spots in the lineup.
Sophomore Kaylee Horton went two for three on Tuesday, bringing her average up to a team-high .260.
Alabama is 20-7 on the season, including 9-1 at Rhoads Stadium. Ranked No. 16 in the nation, Alabama is coming off of a 10-5 victory over UAB in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday. In their opening SEC series of the season, the Crimson Tide dropped two of three games on the road at then-No. 14 Auburn, with all three games being decided by two runs or less. Of Alabama’s seven losses, six came against teams ranked in the top 15.
With seven players that have tallied multiple home runs on the season, Alabama boasts one of the most dangerous power-hitting lineups in the nation, having crushed 23 dingers in 2018. Sophomore utility player Bailey Hemphill paces the tide with six long balls, while freshman Kaylee Tow is one behind with five. Tow is also Alabama’s leader in batting average at .352, scoring a team-high 19 runs and adding 15 RBIs. Hemphill has collected a team-best 25 RBIs to go along with her .333 average to rank third on the team, while sophomore speedster Elissa Brown is batting .339 and is 18 for 18 on stolen base attempts. Sophomore Gabby Callaway has also proven to be a dangerous threat at the plate, recording a .314 average with six doubles, 14 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
In the circle, Crimson Tide ace Alexis Osorio is one of the elite pitching talents in college softball, entering the weekend with a 6-3 record and a 1.61 ERA in 61 innings. Osorio has struck out 101 batters, compared to just 32 walks and is holding opposing batters to a .146 average. However, Osorio’s status for the series is unknown as the right-handed pitcher has been ruled out indefinitely after being struck by a line drive in her most recent outing. Two other pitchers have seen action for Alabama. Junior Courtney Gettins has gone 8-2 with a 1.67 ERA in 58.2 innings, posting a .195 opponent batting average. Freshman Madison Preston has thrown nearly as many frames at 53.2, boasting a 6-2 record in 13 appearances with a 1.83 ERA. Opponents are batting .243 off of Preston, who leads Alabama with four home runs allowed.
The Rebels and Crimson Tide have met 63 times prior this weekend series. Alabama leads the all-time series at 58-5. Last season, Ole Miss took two of three games in Oxford, and the Rebels defeated Alabama in the SEC Tournament.
Game times are slated for tonight at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Fans can watch the games on SEC Network+.

Adam Brown is the sports editor of HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at adam.brown@hottytoddy.com.