Ole Miss Softball: No.17 Rebels Pick Up SEC Series Win Over Kentucky
After a tough game-one loss Friday night No.17 Ole Miss softball was back in action Saturday as they would play a double-header.
Coach Mike Smith and No.17 Ole Miss softball (27-10, 7-4) entered game-two of the double-header against No.22 Kentucky (24-15, 8-7) Saturday coming off a 4-11 loss to the Wildcats Friday night. The Rebels would need a win in game-two to even the series and follow it up with a win in game-three to win the SEC road series.
In game-two of the series, which was the first game of the double-header Saturday, the Rebels cranked it up early with 4 runs in the top of the first to take the 4-0 lead. The Wildcats cut the Rebels lead to 4-2 with 2 runs in the bottom of the second. The Rebels extended their lead to 8-2 with 4 more runs in the top of the third. Kentucky added 1 run in the bottom of the frame to cut the Rebels lead to 8-3 and then added 1 run in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 8-4 Rebels win.
In game three the Rebels got started early again with 2 runs in the top of the first to take the 2-0 lead. The Wildcats managed to force extra innings with 1 run in the bottom of fourth and 1 run in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 2-2 game but the Rebels added 4 runs in the top of the eighth to make it 6-2 headed into the bottom of the frame. The Wildcats couldn’t answer and Ole Miss picked up the 6-2 win and the series with the double-header sweep. OHT will look at both Saturday games by the numbers.
By The Numbers
Ole Miss Rebels
In the 8-4 game-two win there were 8 Rebels who combined for 12 hits with 4 Rebels recording multiple-hit games at the plate. Leading all Rebels was sophomore Jessica Puk who went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI in the game.
Sophomore Amanda Roth went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI while freshman Tate Whitley and senior Kylan Becker also went 2 for 4 at the plate.
Freshman Mikayla Allee went 1 for 1 while sophomore Abbey Latham went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI. Senior Brittany Finney went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI in the game. Junior Autumn Gillespie went 1 for 4 at the plate.
In the circle senior right-hander Brittany Finney (10-5) drew the start for coach Mike Smith and the Rebels. Finney went for 7.0 innings allowing 2 earned runs on 8 hits with 3 Ks and 1 BB.
Game-Three
In the 6-2 win in game-three there were 7 Rebels who combined for 11 hits with 3 Rebels recording multiple-hit games. Leading all Rebels at the plate was freshman Tate Whitley who went 3 for 4. Junior Kaylee Horton and senior Kylan Becker each went 2 for 5 in the game.
Sophomore Abbey Latham went 1 for 4 at the plate while junior Autumn Gillespie and sophomores Jessica Puk and Amanda Roth (1HR) each went 1 for 3. Roth had 2 RBI while Gillespie and Puk each had 1 RBI.
Junior left-hander Molly Jacobsen drew the start in the circle for coach Mike Smith and the Rebels. Jacobsen went for 6.0 innings allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits with 7 Ks and 2 BB. Senior right-hander Brittany Finney entered in the seventh and finished out the extra innings affair. Finney went for 2.0 innings allowing 0 earned runs on 2 hits with 3 Ks.
Coach Mike Smith and No.17 Ole Miss softball will be back in action Wednesday as the Rebels host UAB in Oxford. First pitch for the midweek matchup is set for 6pm and the game can be viewed via SECN+. Good luck to coach Smith and the Rebels. Hotty Toddy!