The University of Kentucky softball team returns to Southeastern Conference action this weekend as the Cats travel to Oxford, Miss., to face Ole Miss. This key three-game series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday and concludes with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, while the series finale is set for a 1 p.m. start.
The conference foes who are battling for a spot in the upcoming SEC Tournament have met 25 times previous to this weekend. Ole Miss leads 19-6 in the all-time series after taking two games from the Wildcats last year in Lexington. The Wildcats won the opening game of the series with a 5-3 victory over the Rebels last season.
Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State on Wednesday night to improve to 18-33 on the year and 5-10 in league play. The Rebels are ranked fifth in the SEC Western Division and have won two straight one-run games over South Carolina and MSU.
Lisa Conchos leads the UM offense with a team-high .318 average and 20 runs scored. Lauren Rowe is tops on the team with 28 RBI and five home runs, while pitcher Mary Jane Callahan is 8-16 on the year with a 3.14 ERA. Callahan has also been productive at the plate, batting .299 with 20 runs scored, eight doubles and nine RBI.
The Wildcats bring a 21-30 overall record to Oxford after dropping three straight games. The Cats equaled their SEC win total from a season ago and are 4-20 in league competition which ranks them fifth in the Eastern Division standings.
Katie Campbell and Meghan Cooper continue to provide leadership at the plate. Campbell leads the Cats in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.324), doubles (11), home runs (6), slugging percentage (.542) and RBI (40). The junior catcher has played in all 51 games for the Cats this season, as have Cooper, Megan Glenn and Megan Miller. Cooper is batting .308 with six doubles, a team-high four triples and 15 RBI. She leads the team with 26 runs scored and is second in the SEC after being hit by a pitch 14 times.
Senior Amy Kendall and freshman Jessica Trueblood lead the Wildcat pitching staff. Both starters have eight wins in 31 appearances this season. Trueblood is 8-16 this season with four saves, 111 strikeouts and a 3.09 ERA. Kendall is 8-9 on the year and has 98 punch outs for the Wildcats.
