Ole Miss Softball was back in action for a 10-inning fall scrimmage against Jacksonville State on Friday, Oct. 9, and the baseball team played an intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 9 and defeated Samford in 12 innings on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Softball
The Gamecocks showed no fight against the Rebels’ superior pitching, and their defensive miscues and subpar pitching performances helped Ole Miss get the 12-0 win. The Rebels had 14 hits to Jacksonville’s two.
Returning standout pitcher Emilee Boyer started the game for Ole Miss in the circle. She looked poised to start another dominant season, only allowing one hit and no runs through four innings. Boyer showed offensive power as well with an enormous 2-run home run to center field.
The Rebel defense was a mix of major returners and notable newcomers. All-SEC junior Persy Llamas held down first base, while Arizona transfer Jenna Sniffen started at third.
There were a few noteworthy Rebel individual performances. Redshirt freshman Addi Linton, who missed last season due to injury, shined on both sides of the ball.
Linton reached base multiple times but was most impressive when she came in to pitch in the top of the fifth inning and immediately struck out the side. Overall, her only sign of inexperience was when she struck out with bases loaded in the ninth.
Liesl Osteen, who joined Ole Miss as a junior from UCLA last season, appears ready to take on a much bigger role for the Rebels this season. Osteen controlled center field, recorded a hit and a walk and drove in one run early in the game. In the ninth, she came up to bat with two outs and the bases loaded and drove in two more runs.
Catcher Kennedy Bunker started the game behind the plate and hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Off the base path, Ole Miss Softball legend Lexie Brady made her debut as the Rebels’ first base coach. Brady is entering her first season as assistant program and player coordinator after serving as a graduate assistant last season.
Baseball
Across campus at Swayze Field two days later, Ole Miss Baseball defeated Samford 11-8 in 12 innings. Judd Utermark and Will Furniss did not play due to eligibility concerns.
Transfers showed out in the opening fall ball game. Houston transfer Blake Fields, who spent time in left and center field, went 2-of-3 with two home runs.
LA Tech transfer Trey Hawsey had two doubles and a run, while Indiana transfer Caleb Koskie had two hits and two runs.
Returning center fielder Hayden Federico went yard and had a sliding grab. Topher Jones, who was a part of the revolving door in left field last season, played third and hit a no-doubt homer.
On the mound, returner JP Robertson got the start, pitching two innings and giving up a home run with four strikeouts. Owen Hancock pitched a clean frame.
Koskie led off, Federico was second and Hawsey rounded out the first three batters. TCU transfer catcher Brady Dallimore, Fields and shortstop Owen Paino were in the middle of the order. Freshman Winston Pennant was the designated hitter from the seventh spot. Justin Fultz batted eight, and Cannon Goldin was the second DH. Jones batted in the 10th spot.
On Friday, the Rebels played an intrasquad game. Mississippi State transfer Charlie Foster looked excellent; he struck out Utermark quickly on four pitches with three swinging strikes. Foster appears to be the early favorite for the Friday starting position over returning sixth year Hunter Elliott.
Dallimore hit a 99 mph 2-run homer on Friday. The concern with him may be his defense. Baserunners are heavily incentivized to steal bases in intrasquad games, gaining additional points for doing so. Dallimore allowed four stolen bases. Three of his throws from behind the plate were not all that close, either skipping into second or sailing high.
He also allowed a passed ball. While this may have just been a bad few plays, it is something to keep an eye on.
