Ole Miss Softball Splits Doubleheader with Southern Miss

Ole Miss softball closed its Wednesday doubleheader with Southern Miss on a good note, run-ruling the Golden Eagles in five innings at the USM Softball Complex.

After a heartbreaker in game one when pitcher Alyssa Clayton carried a perfect game into the sixth and the Rebels ended up falling, Ole Miss (9-3) bounced back with a big effort in game two behind a season-high 15 hits.

The Rebels move to 9-3 overall and return home to Oxford for three-straight weekends at home beginning Friday with the Ole Miss Classic this weekend.

See below for full recaps on both games against Southern Miss.

Game One – Southern Miss 2, Ole Miss 1
After Ole Miss got its leadoff hitter on to begin the contest, the two teams traded 1-2-3 frames up until the fifth. The Rebels posted the first hits of the game – a single each from Lampton and Courtney Syrett – in the fifth, but stranded both runners.

The Rebels came back in the sixth to get another hit from Hailey Lunderman, but again stranded her to keep the scoreless contest going.

Clayton entered the home half of the sixth with a perfect game, but gave it up on a two-out walk to give the Golden Eagles their first baserunner. The ensuing hitter shot a double just over Kylan Becker’s head in right field breaking the scoreless tie. Southern Miss went on to drive in another run on a single through the right side to make it 2-0 headed to the seventh.

But, the Rebels didn’t go away quietly, as Martinez led off the inning with a solo home run to center field cutting the deficit to 2-1. Lampton followed with a hard double to right field that deflected off the wall to setup the game-tying run for Alex Schneider. After she put down the sacrifice bunt moving Lampton to third, Syrett’s bunt attempt turned into a double play ending the contest.

Lampton finished game one 2-for-3 with a double, while Lunderman, Martinez and Syrett each added a single hit.

Clayton finished her stellar performance in the circle with just two hits allowed, two earned runs and unfortunately got the loss in the heartbreaker.

Game Two – Ole Miss 10, Southern Miss 1 (5)
The Rebels posted a season-high 15 hits in the nightcap, posting runs in each of the first four innings to run-rule its second opponent in the last three games.

Lampton was responsible for the first run in the first, singling through the left side scoring Lunderman. Sarah Van Schaik kept it going with a single through the right side scoring Martinez to make it 2-0 after the top half.

Southern Miss got the run back and cut the lead in half in their first chance at the plate after an RBI single into right center field.

Lunderman pushed a run across an inning later on a groundout to short making it 3-1, before an errant throw by the Golden Eagles’ catcher scored two making it 5-1.

Cox drew a bases loaded walk to start the bottom half of the third earning an RBI, before Lunderman followed with a sacrifice fly to center increasing the advantage to 7-1.

The Rebels pushed the final three runs across in the fourth thanks to a bunt RBI from Lampton, an RBI single from Haley Culley, and an RBI double from Dakota Matiko.

Cox finished game two 3-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, while Matiko also went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Martinez and Van Schaik both added two hits in the 15-hit effort.

Madi Osias got the win in her four innings pitched; only allowing one run off four hits. She struck out five Golden Eagle hitters and only allowed one walk to improve to 4-1 on the season.

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.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports

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