Ole Miss Softball Returns to the Diamond for Midweek Tilts

Ole Miss softball prepares to take the diamond for two midweek tilts. The game against Central Arkansas begins tonight at the Ole Miss Softball Complex, and the Rebels will take on Belmont Wednesday. First pitch against Central Arkansas set for 6 p.m. 
Ole Miss (19-16) is coming off of a 2-2 road trip last week, opening with a 5-2 win over Southern Miss on Wednesday before going 1-2 at No. 14 LSU on the weekend. In the series opener, the Rebels and Tigers engaged in a bout for the ages, going 19 innings strong until LSU won the game on a bloop single.
In the third edition of the NCAA RPI report, Ole Miss slid up one spot to No. 34.
Central Arkansas sits at 20-17 on the season, including 9-6 in Southland Conference action. The Bears have played three common opponents with Ole Miss in UT Martin, LSU and SIUE, losing all three matchups. ACU has struggled away from home, registering a 3-8 record on the road in 2018. The Bears are coming off of a road series at Stephen F. Austin, losing two of three games in Nacogdoches, Louisiana.
Batting .267 as a team, Central Arkansas is led offensively by junior Libby Morris at .353 with a team-high five home runs and 28 RBIs as well as 21 runs scored. Sophomore Kaylyn Shepherd isn’t far behind at .346, matching Morris with nine doubles and posting 14 RBIs and 12 runs. Brianna McArthur is another threat at the plate, registering a .338 average with 13 RBIs and eight runs scored.
In the circle, four players have thrown over 45 innings on the year, spearheaded by freshman Rio Sanchez at 79.1 in 11 starts, posting a 2.38 ERA. Sophomore Kailla Searcy has started 10 games with a 3.67 ERA in 55.1 frames, while junior Ellie Reaves holds a 3.76 ERA in 54.0 innings. Junior Rachel Haberman has posted a 3.96 ERA in 46 innings, ranking second on the team with 18 appearances.
The Rebels and the Bears have met on the diamond 10 times prior to tonight’s game with Ole Miss is leading the all-time series 8-2, including having a perfect 7-0 record in games  played in Oxford.
Fans can watch all the action on the SEC Network+.

---

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