Ole Miss Drops Final Game Against Kentucky

OXFORD, Miss. The Ole Miss Rebels dropped the final game of a three-game set against the Kentucky Wildcats by a score of 4-2 on Sunday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. The Rebels and the Wildcats split both games of a double header on Saturday.

With the game tied at two in the Kentucky seventh, Destinee Mordecai reached on a fielding error by Rebel shortstop Lauren Grill and moved to second on an infield single by Megan Aull. Becky Nye entered in relief of Ole Miss starting pitcher Tara Willitt and unleashed a wild pitch, moving the runners up. After Meyer walked, Megan Yocke struck out looking for the first out of the inning. However, Kentucky second baseman Natalie Smith singled up the middle to drive in two runs and give Kentucky the lead. Nye would come back to record the final two outs to end the inning with the bases loaded.

The Rebels (16-22, 1-16 SEC) threatened in the bottom half of the seven after two walks gave Ole Miss runners on first and second with two outs. Alyssa McGovern hit a sharp line drive, but second baseman Natalie Smith jumped and snagged the ball to end the Rebels’ hopes.

Kentucky (15-22, 3-11 SEC) struck in the top of the first on a RBI double by Smith. The double drove in Yocke, who walked with one down in the inning. Smith was picked off at third by Lauren Rowe trying to advance on the throw.

After the first two batters struck out in the Rebel half of the first, Grill reached on an infield single and was followed by Dowdy, who also reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Wildcat shortstop Molly Johnson. Amber Tramp was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Lauren Rowe walked to score Grill and tie the game at one.

The Rebels threatened in the second after a Lisa Conchos double gave the Ole Miss runners on second and third with two down. However, Grill popped out to the second baseman to end the inning.

Kentucky took the lead in the fourth after Johnson doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a bunt by Ashley Dimkich to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.

The Wildcats threatened again in the fifth with a pair of singles, but Willitt was able to work her out of the jam and strand runners on the corners.

Grill led off the bottom of the fifth with a single through the left side of the infield and was followed by Dowdy, who singled to left to give the Rebels runners on first and second with no outs. Amber Tramp popped up for the first out of the inning and Lauren Rowe struck out for the second out. However, Alyssa McGovern knocked a double off the shortstop’s glove into center to drive in Grill and tie the game at two.

Grill finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Dowdy added two singles in three at-bats. Rowe and McGovern each added RBI.

Willitt (5-9) suffered the loss for the Rebels. She pitched 6.0 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. Nye pitched the final frame and struck out two batters.

Amber Matousek (9-12) picked up the win for the Wildcats. She went the distance and allowed nine hits.

Next up, Ole Miss will travel to Ridgeland, Miss. on Tuesday to face in-state rival Mississippi State in a single non-conference contest. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m.

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Team Stats

Lauren Grill

Ashley Dowdy

Lisa Conchos

Amber Tramp

The University of Mississippi Athletics