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ASU Softball: Scouting Devils’ Competition in Oxford Regional

By Sam Ficarro

May 10, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; SEC Softball tournament at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Mandatory Credit: Wade Payne-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; SEC Softball tournament at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Mandatory Credit: Wade Payne-USA TODAY Sports /
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February 11, 2017; Fullerton, CA, USA; Ole Miss Rebels starting pitcher/relief pitcher Kaitlin Lee (3) throws against the North Dakota State Bison at Anderson Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 11, 2017; Fullerton, CA, USA; Ole Miss Rebels starting pitcher/relief pitcher Kaitlin Lee (3) throws against the North Dakota State Bison at Anderson Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

#12 Ole Miss Rebels

The Ole Miss Rebels are riding a large wave of momentum after going into Knoxville, Tennessee and winning the SEC Tournament as the No. 8 seed, becoming the lowest seed to ever win it.

Competing in one of the hardest conferences in the nation, Ole Miss finished with a 40-18 record and 10-14 in SEC play facing 18 teams who earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

The Rebels finished with a record of 12-18 against Tournament-bound teams in part because every SEC team earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Among the non-conference opponents Ole Miss faced were the reigning national champions Oklahoma, a game the Rebels lost 11-8, and two of the best mid-majors in Jacksonville State and North Dakota State.

Before heading to Knoxville for the SEC Tournament, some thought Ole Miss might be on the outside looking in for a national seed but the Rebels won four games in four days including defeating the No. 1 overall seed Florida Gators, No. 7 seed Auburn Tigers and No. 13 seed LSU Tigers.

Safe to say the Rebels have been battled-tested this season.

Ole Miss boasts one of the best offenses in the SEC finishing sixth in runs scored (294) and second in hits (453), which is impressive ranking considering how strong SEC pitching is.

The Rebels hit for contact hitting only 29 home runs this season (third-fewest in the SEC) boasting .377 on base percentage.

Leading Mississippi’s offensive attack is outfielder Elantra Cox, who leads the team with a .417 batting average, 83 hits, 46 runs scored and a .927 on base + slugging percentage.

Ole Miss has a deep lineup as eight Rebels have at least 20 RBIs with infielder Ashton Lampton leading the team with 33 RBIs.

With Ole Miss’ high team on-base percentage, the Rebels finished second in stolen bases (99) finishing only four behind Georgia for the conference-lead.

In the circle, the Rebels have been solid finishing eighth in team ERA (2.11).

While eighth might not sound great, Ole Miss’ team ERA would be good for third in the Pac-12.

Ole Miss are led by their ace Kaitlin Lee who went 20-10 in 40 appearances and 33 starts this season sporting a 1.78 ERA.

Lee’s 20 wins was good for fifth in the conference while also placing first in innings pitched (220 IP), 14th in strikeouts (106 Ks) and walking the ninth-fewest batters in the SEC (31).

Despite Lee leading the SEC in appearances and starts, Ole Miss has also received contributions from four other pitchers with Morgan Bruce the No. 2 starter.

Bruce is 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 21 appearances and 12 starts this season.

Arizona State will have their hands full with the Rebels should they meet in Oxford this weekend trying to break down Lee and to prevent the Rebels from creating havoc on the base paths.

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