OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss Softball added a key component to the future of the program with the signing of Oklahoma pitcher Brittany Finney, head coach Mike Smith announced Thursday.
Finney will be immediately eligible for the Rebels beginning in the spring of 2017 and have three years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot right-hander made nine appearances in 2016 for the Sooners, helping the squad to the Women’s College World Series Championship.
“We are excited to add Brittany to our team for next year,” Smith said. “She will be able to make an immediate impact in our pitching staff. Adding Brittany adds another piece to our puzzle and helps us take one step closer to fulfilling our overall goal to win a national championship. She knows first-hand what it takes to attain one of those, and she will be a huge asset to our pitching staff and the rest of the team with her experience and work ethic to be the best in the country.”
The Wichita, Kansas native totaled 18.2 innings in the circle for Oklahoma with a 1.12 ERA. She started four contests for the club that finished the year 53-7 atop the collegiate softball ranks and was the pitcher of decision once earlier in the year.
“After taking a hard look at what I really wanted to accomplish in my collegiate softball career, and meeting with the coaching staff at Ole Miss, the transfer just seemed to make sense,” Finney said. “The family atmosphere on the team and the drive, focus and determination of the players and staff really fit with how I feel about the game. To be given the opportunity to join such an outstanding group, and to help Ole Miss Softball as they reach even greater heights is exactly what I’m looking for, and I’m honored to have the opportunity.”
Finney struck out 19 and allowed just three earned runs helping to throw four combined shutouts, and held opposing hitters to just a .175 average. In a start against Western Michigan on Feb. 20, she went a season high 3.2 frames with only three hits allowed, and struck out a season high five batters earning the win. She also recorded a save at Iowa State later in the year and overall didn’t allow a run in seven of her nine outings.
Out of high school Finney was a highly touted recruit, choosing Oklahoma over Arizona. A four-year letterwinner at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, she was named the 2015 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, and also showed some pop with the bat as the state’s all-time leader in home runs with 38. After transferring to Bishop Carroll prior to the 2014 season, she helped that team to consecutive state titles, and totaled four league and regional championships overall in her high school career.
In the circle as a senior, Finney was near dominant going 14-1 with a 0.30 ERA in 70 innings of work with 112 strikeouts and only eight walks and 20 hits allowed. As a junior, she was just as impressive with a perfect 12-0 record and 0.32 ERA with 83 strikeouts.
For all Ole Miss Softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Fans can also follow head coach Mike Smith on Twitter at @msmithsb16. Additionally fans can get a behind the scenes look at Ole Miss Athletics on Snapchat under the handle, @WeAreOleMiss.
