MONROE, La. – Coming off a weekend that saw ULM split a doubleheader with conference foe #23 South Alabama and knocking the Jaguars out of the rankings, the Warhawks (18-7, 4-1 Sun Belt) travel to Oxford to face Ole Miss at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
The Rebels (15-11, 0-6 SEC) are the first of two SEC opponents the Warhawks will face this month.
The one-game match, originally schedule for 6 p.m., has been moved up to 4 p.m. due to rain threat.
For the latest on ULM softball, visit ULMWarhawks.com and follow the team on Twitter (@ULM_Softball) and Facebook (facebook.com/ULMSoftball).
Follow the Action
Twitter: @ULM_Softball
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ULMSoftball
Live Stats: www.olemisssports.com
TV: SEC Network +
First Pitch
Wednesday, March 18 6 p.m.
Scouting the Opponent
The Rebels started off the season strong with a 13-5 record while receiving votes in the rankings. During this stretch, Ole Miss defeated Delaware 12-4, a team the Warhawks swept earlier in the season with 7-5 and 11-3 finals.
Since the opening of SEC play, the Rebels have been tested by back-to-back, top-ranked opponents as they were swept by #5 Alabama and #9 Auburn to move to 15-11 overall and 0-6 in SEC play.
Series History
Ole Miss and ULM have faced each other seven times previously with the Warhwaks holding a 4-3 series lead.
The last time the two opponents battled was in a midweek doubleheader in the 2014 season. ULM took a 6-3 victory in game one with the Rebels taking game two in five innings with a 1-11 score.
Leading Off
•ULM faces its first of two SEC opponents on the season as the Warhawks travel to Oxford for a midweek showdown with Ole Miss. ULM holds a 4-3 series lead over the Rebels.
•The Warhawks' win over #23 South Alabama was the first win over the Jaguars since the 2011 season when the Warhawks took an11-3 decision to prevent a series sweep. The win also marked the first over a ranked opponent since a 4-2 victory over #5 ULL in the 2012 season.
•The Warhawks 4-1 start in Sun Belt Conference play is the best start for the program since moving to the conference in 2007.
•Sophomore Melanie Coyne dealt a two-hit, shut out to the Jaguars to mark back-to-back shut out outings. The complete game shutout was the first of her career. The win moved Coyne to 3-0 with a 0.38 ERA in conference play.
•ULM's 83 stolen bases average for 3.32 stolen bases per game to rank first in the country. Rochelle Roberts continues to be a perfect 22-22 in stolen base attempts, which leads the team and the conference. Roberts ranks sixth in the nation in stolen bases per game.
Game Rewind
Powered by a two-hit, shut out from Melanie Coyne, the Warhawks picked up the first game of the doubleheader to top #23 South Alabama for the first time since the 2011 season.
The Warhawks (18-7, 4-1 SBC) issued the Jaguars (17-6, 2-3 SBC) their first run-rule loss of the season. It marked ULM's first victory over a ranked opponent since the 2012 season.
Sophomore Rochelle Roberts picked up four hits in the series to extend her hit streak to nine games. Roberts scored two runs and picked up an RBI against the Jaguars.
Coyne continued her win streak in conference play picking up her third Sun Belt win to move to 5-3 on the season. Coyne shutout the Jaguars offense in game one and allowed only two hits. The sophomore also continue to prove strong at the plate with two hits and two RBI.
