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The two-time defending national champion Gator softball team (35-3) continues its four-game road trip this weekend as they take on the Ole Miss Rebels (28-10) in Oxford, Mississippi. In their last series meeting back in March of 2014, Florida won 2-of-3. Florida is entering this weekend series in first place in the SEC with a 9-3 record and the second-highest win percentage (.921) after its series loss to Alabama last weekend.
Both the Gators and the Rebels have three losses against top 25 opponents but Florida has 12 wins over ranked foes while Ole Miss only has two. The Gators and the Rebels have played each other at least once each year since 1998 and Florida holds a 41-8 all time record against Ole Miss. In the past 13 match-ups between the two schools, Florida has won 12 games. Florida also holds 10 straight wins over Ole Miss in Oxford. The Gators have not lost on the road against Ole Miss since 2007.
Buckle up, it's gonna be a fun weekend with @OleMissSoftball!!
Preview: https://t.co/Pu86nWd7Ai pic.twitter.com/4bLHctjyb6
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 8, 2016
The Gators are led by Kelsey Stewart hitting .364 (12 for 33) over Florida’s last 10 games with two RBI and 10 runs scored. Stewart is also the NCAA active leader in career hits (333) by almost 50 tallies. Meanwhile Kelly Barnhill-119, Delanie Gourley-115, and Aleshia Ocasio-88 are looking to become the second trio in school history to record 100+ strikeouts in a season.
The Rebels are led by junior Courtney Syrett with an 11 game reached-base streak and sophomore Elantra Cox who has hit safely in seven straight. Senior pitcher for Ole Miss, Madi Osias carried the team last weekend throwing 310 pitches in the Mississippi State series improving to 15-2. She is three wins from breaking the single-season school record.
First pitch of this weekend series is set for 7 p.m. Friday night. All games can be seen on the SEC Network. After Ole Miss, the Gators will look to take on rival Florida State Wednesday.
