Ole Miss Odds and Ends: Smith’s home run powers Ole Miss softball past No. 19 Missouri

Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations | Stellar pitching and a five-run third inning helped power Ole Miss softball past No. 19 Missouri for its first SEC victory of the season Friday night at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.

The Rebels (22-7, 1-3 SEC) remained perfect at home to start the season, picking up their 10^th victory in Oxford. Anna Borgen and Savannah Diederich were dealing in the circle as they held one of the league’s top offenses in Missouri (19-10, 0-3 SEC) to one run on four hits.

Both teams stranded a running in the opening frame. Borgen worked around a two-out single, while the Tigers stranded Roper at first after a walk.

Making her first start of the season at first base, Aynslie Furbush made an early game-changing play in the second, snaring a line drive and stepping on the bag to erase a leadoff single and give Borgen a quick two outs. The lefty continued to shine in the circle, using only 10 pitches in a 1-2-3 third.

All four of Ole Miss’ hits came in the offensive explosion in the bottom half of the third. With one away, Whitley singled through the legs of the shortstop, and Roper walked on four pitches for the second straight at-bat to bring Paige Smith to the plate with a chance to strike first. Smith blasted a three-run shot over the wall in left to give the Rebels the early lead.

Ole Miss continued to rally in the inning, even with two outs. Angelina DeLeon was hit by a pitch, Furbush singled and the pair moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Mikayla Allee drove a 3-1 pitch out to the wall in right center, extending the lead to 5-0 with an RBI double.

Missouri responded in the top of the fourth as a leadoff double came around to score, but Borgen was able to minimize the damage thanks to a run-saving snag by Allee at short to end the threat.

Heading into the fifth inning, Ole Miss turned to the bullpen, bringing in Diederich. She retired the side in the fifth and went on to strand a runner in the sixth and seventh to close out the ball game.

The Rebels are back in action, looking to secure the series Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on SECN+.

Ole Miss’ Taiwo opens outdoor season strong at first day of Ole Miss Classic

Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations | Ole Miss track & field NCAA Champion senior Shey Taiwo opened her outdoor season in strong fashion to inaugurate home competition for the Rebels in a hammer-heavy first day of the 2022 Ole Miss Classic on Friday.

Taiwo, who is coming off a historic national title season indoors in the weight throw, won the invitational section of the women’s hammer at a season-opening toss of 69.24m/227-02 – which currently stands as the No. 2 throw in the NCAA and No. 3 throw in the United States this season. Taiwo took the lead on that throw in the fourth round over former teammate and fellow NCAA Champion, Janeah Stewart, who finished second at her third-round 68.71m/225-05 to open her outdoor season as well.

Taiwo is also the reigning NCAA runner-up in the hammer after a spectacular performance out in Oregon last summer, where she became the No. 9 performer in NCAA history at a 16-foot career-best of 71.27m/233-10. Earlier this week, Taiwo returned to The Bowerman Award Watch List, which is collegiate track & field’s version of the Heisman Trophy given out annually to the most outstanding men’s and women’s performers in the nation.

Also competing in the women’s invitational section were reigning NCAA weight throw runner-up Jasmine Mitchell (sixth, 63.28m/207-07) and Jalani Davis (62.70m/205-08).

In the open section of the women’s hammer, senior Deborah Bulai had a career day, finishing third at a PR of 59.08m/193-10 that improves upon her place in No. 7 in Ole Miss history.

In the men’s hammer, Joseph Lanham had an excellent day, notching a two-foot PR on his fifth attempt at 57.63m/189-01, which improves upon his spot as 10th-best in Ole Miss history. Others placing in the men’s hammer were Joseph Benedetto (seventh, 56.66m/185-10) and Costen Campion (24th, 48.19m/158-01).

Competition will run all day Saturday at the Ole Miss Track & Field Complex for the conclusion of the Ole Miss Classic, with action beginning at 9 a.m. CT in the men’s javelin.

REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION

Women’s Hammer (Invitational)

1. Shey Taiwo – 69.24m/227-02 – No. 2 NCAA, No. 3 U.S.

6. Jasmine Mitchell – 63.28m/207-07

7. Jalani Davis – 62.70m/205-08

Women’s Hammer

3. Deborah Bulai – 59.08m/193-10 – PR, No. 7 Ole Miss History

Men’s Hammer

6. Joseph Lanham – 57.63m/189-01 – PR, No. 10 Ole Miss History

7. Joseph Benedetto – 56.66m/185-10

24. Costen Campion – 48.19m/158-01

FOUL Montel Johnson

Ole Miss women’s golf ends opening day of Liz Murphey Classic in ninth

Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations | The Ole Miss women’s golf team concluded the opening round of the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic tied for ninth on the team leaderboard, as the Rebels’ round of 302 (+14) saw the team settle into the middle of the pack heading into Saturday’s second round.

Day one would end with the Rebels ranking first in the field in par-5 scoring (-1) as a team, while sitting in the middle of the pack in total birdies with 11 on the day.

The Rebels would have to open the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic without Chiara Tamburlini, as the junior was forced to withdraw prior to the start of round one due to a wrist injury. Tamburlini currently leads the team in stroke average on the 2021-22 season, logging a 72.65 over her eight tournament appearances.

Freshman Natacha Host Husted led the way for the Rebels on the opening day from Athens, carding a 72 (E) that would slot her into sixth overall. Host Husted’s three-birdie performance ended with the Copenhagen, Denmark, native leading the Rebels in par-3 (E), par-4 (+1) and par-5 (-1) scoring on the day.

Wrapping up day one in a tie for 36th, Julia Johnson saw a strong finish to her round help the senior salvage a 76 (+4) on the day. Despite going five-over in her front nine, Johnson would sink two birdies in her final nine holes on the day to go one-under on the back nine.

Senior Ellen Hutchinson-Kay would match Johnson’s 76 (+4) on the day, sinking birdies on hole 6 and hole 12 in the process. Hutchinson-Kay’s one-over par-4 scoring total would tie teammate Natacha Host Husted for best amongst the Rebels.

Andrea Lignell would round out the Rebel lineup by logging a 78 (+6), finishing her day in a tie for 46th. Even with Lignell leading the team with four total birdies, tying her for the second-most amongst all golfers in attendance in Georgia, it was her six holes over par, including going +5 on Hole 8 that would hold the junior back on the day one leaderboard.

Wake Forest would end the opening round of play tied at 293 (+5) with fellow team frontrunner Texas A&M.

The Rebels will return to action tomorrow for the second round of play from the UGA Golf Course. Tee times for Ole Miss will take place from 12:17-12:53 p.m. CT, with the Rebels teeing off of Hole 10.

THE REBELS
T6. Natacha Host Husted: 72 (E)
T36. Julia Johnson: 76 (+4)
T36. Ellen Hutchinson-Kay: 76 (+4)
T46. Andrea Lignell: 78 (+6)
* Chiara Tamburlini withdrew from opening round of play

TEAM LEADERBOARD
T1. Wake Forest: 293 (+5)
T1. Texas A&M: 293 (+5)
3. Arkansas: 294 (+6)
4. South Carolina: 295 (+7)
T5. Alabama: 299 (+11)
T5. USC: 299 (+11)
7. Louisville: 300 (+12)
8. Georgia (A): 301 (+13)
9. Ole Miss: 302 (+14)
10. Mississippi State: 303 (+15)
11. Georgia (B): 306 (+18)
12. Houston: 308 (+20)
13. Mercer: 309 (+21)
T14. Texas: 312 (+24)
T14. Georgia Southern: 312 (+24)
16. Charleston: 322 (+34)