It was a bitter weekend for fans of Ole Miss softball as head coach Mike Smith and his team were swept by the top-ranked Florida Gators. The Rebels were shutout the entire weekend in Gainesville, connecting on just seven hits over three games.
While the Gators’ defensive domination put a stop to any and all Ole Miss hitting throughout the weekend, the Rebels’ own pitching and fielding prowess severely limited Florida’s juggernaut-level offense. The pitching showdowns each game proved that Ole Miss has the ability to compete with the best, but there is plenty of room left for improvement.
Ole Miss softball players cheer on their teammate at the plate in a game earlier this season. (Photo by: Cameron Brooks)
The first game set the tempo and displayed early signs of a defense-heavy series as the Gators slid by Smith and his squad 2-0. Even more frustrating for Ole Miss was the fact that Florida was held to just one earned run the entire game. Despite its own success on the mound, Ole Miss simply could not outperform Florida’s star sophomore pitcher Kelly Barnhill, who struck out 16 Rebel batters in the full seven innings.
The lack of production at the plate was certainly a cause for concern, but the Rebels holding the Gators to two runs gave Ole Miss fans a sliver of optimism heading into Saturday. However, the second game’s narrative mimicked the first’s as the Rebels fell once again, this time 3-0.
Ole Miss accumulated just two hits all game, with neither offering much in terms of offensive development. On the mound, the Rebels did well to limit scoring once again but gave up key offensive ground with three pitching errors. Comparatively, the Gators shone just as bright on the mound in game two as they did in game one with 11 strikeouts and no errors.
The final game of the series saw Smith and his players desperate to draw blood from their highly talented opponent. The Rebels had very little to lose as the Gators already notched the series victory. Once again, it seemed as if Ole Miss might come out and shock the Gators with strong defensive play and a revamped offensive game plan focused on aggressive hitting. This quickly fizzled out, and Florida completed its sweep of the Rebels.
The lack of focus that seemed to manifest itself in game two grew in game three with Florida scoring five times while holding Ole Miss scoreless again. Smith’s pitching staff gave up five errors and completed just a single strikeout. The Gators, on the other hand, were as efficient as ever, striking out 12 and allowing three hits. Barnhill harassed the Rebels once more, accounting for nine of the 12 strikeouts in five innings.
The 31-16 (6-12 in conference play) Rebel softball team will now focus on a midweek matchup with Jacksonville State on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at home.
