March 24, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss Rebels completed a three-game, Southeastern Conference sweep of the University of Kentucky with a 3-0 victory in softball action on Sunday, March 24 at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. With the loss the Wildcats fall to 15-14, 1-5 SEC while the Rebels are now 18-8, 3-3 SEC.
Lindsey Whatley earned the win for the Rebels, scattering five hits while striking out six over 6.0 innings of work to up her record to 6-3 on the year. Freshman Meghan Cooper took the loss for the Cats, giving up three runs on 10 hits. Cooper’s record now stands at 7-5.
Ole Miss jumped on top early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first on three singles and a double. The Rebels could have inflicted more damage, but a beautiful throw from UK freshman left fielder Megan Brooks nailed UM’s Desiree Layman at the plate, who was trying to score from second on the hit, for the third out of the inning.
The Rebels added another run in the bottom of the fifth as UM put together three singles and an intentional walk. Again the Wildcats kept the Rebels from having a big inning as Cooper enticed Layman to ground back to the circle with one out and the bases loaded, which Cooper turned into a 1-2-3 double play.
The Wildcats biggest scoring threat came in the top of the fifth. Senior Beth Fogle singled and stole second. She then advanced to third as junior Nikki Jones grounded out to the pitcher. Junior Lyndsey Angus was then intentionally walked, her third free pass of the day. UK could not get anyone home however as senior Angie Dal Pozzo grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
The story of the game may have been the Wildcats inability to advance runners as UK left eight runners on base and only three runners made it as far as second base.
DeDe Justice led the Rebels with a single, a run scored, two intentional walks and a RBI to finish the three-game series 4-for-8 with two home runs, four RBI and five runs scored.
The Wildcats, losers of a season-high four straight, return home on Tuesday, March 26 as they play host to Akron in doubleheader as the Cats start a 10-game homestand. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
Kentucky0000000-0 5 0Ole Miss200010X-3 10 0WP: Whatley (6-3). LP: Cooper (7-5). S: none.
-UK-