Rebels Win Slugfest 10-6 Over Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Ole Miss bats pounded out 15 hits and scored 10 runs, as the Rebels won a slugfest 10-6 over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday at Bogle Park. The 15 hits were a season high for the Rebels in SEC play and was just one off Ole Miss' season best of 16 hits recorded in the season-opener against Western Michigan.

After not plating a run yesterday, the Ole Miss offense wasted little time on Sunday scoring four run in the top of the first inning. Center fielder Alise Doubt reached on fielder's choice with one down in the frame and moved to second after Razorback starting pitcher Hope McLemore uncorked a wild pitch. Senior Lauren Grill laced a single to center that moved Doubt to third before pitcher Brittany Barnhill's infield single loaded the bases for the Rebels. Catcher Amber Tramp then roped a two-run single to right center that plated Doubt and Grill and gave Ole Miss a 2-0 advantage. After Brittany Broome, who entered to pinch run for Tramp, stole second, third baseman Cali Overbeck knocked a two-run single of her own to left center that put the Rebels up 4-0 after one-half inning.

Lead-off batter Jessica Bachkora answered back Arkansas in the bottom of the first after she took Barnhill's first pitch over the wall in center for a solo home run. After Barnhill got Becca Carden to ground out to second, two walks and a single to center loaded the bases for Arkansas. Barnhill got first baseman Layne McGuirt to pop out to short, but right fielder Brittany Robison singled up the middle and plated two runs to cut the Ole Miss lead to 4-3 after one.

Grill responded for the Rebels in the second with a monstrous two-run home run that cleared two additional fences beyond the wall in left field. Grill's two-out, two-run shot scored Corrine Doornberg and was her seventh homer o f the year, which ties Overbeck for the team lead. She finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored.

"We really responded today after a disappointing day yesterday," said Ole Miss head coach Missy Dickerson. "We really swung the bat well and had a team effort at the plate."

The Hogs loaded the bases again in the second with one out on a single, a hit-by-pitch and a walk. Barnhill was then relieved by Lindsey Perry, who hit the first batter she faced to drive in a run, but then recorded a sac fly and a ground out to preserve the Ole Miss lead at 6-5 after two innings.

Senior Ashley Dowdy extended the Rebel lead in the third with an RBI single to shortstop that scored Courtnie Ghinaudo, who had singled to left earlier in the inning. Ghinaudo finished the game with three hits in four at-bats, while Tramp added three RBI and Doornberg and Doubt both scored twice.

Arkansas cut into the Ole Miss lead again the fourth after third baseman Sandra Smith walk, stole second, advanced to third on an arrant throw by Rebel catcher Amber Tramp and scored on an infield single by McGuirt.

Building upon their lead like an Erector Set, the Rebels plated three more runs in the road half of the sixth. Grill got the inning started with an RBI single to center and Barnhill followed with an RBI fielder's choice. Tramp added a two-out, RBI double to left center later in the frame that gave Ole Miss a 10-6 advantage.

Perry (9-5) earned the win after entering in relief in the second and pitching the final 5.2 innings. She allowed only one unearned run on three hits and retired 10-of-the-last-13 batters she faced. She struck out four and issued two walks.

Ole Miss will return home next weekend to host the Kentucky Wildcats in the final series of the season at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. The Rebels and the Wildcats will play a double header on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday will also be the final home game for the 2010 Rebel seniors - Alise Doubt, Ashley Dowdy, Courtnie Ghinaudo, Lauren Grill, Alyssa McGovern, Becky Nye and Amber Tramp - who will be honored as part of 'Senior Day' activities before the game.

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Team Stats

Grill Lauren

Ghinaudo Courtnie

Doornberg Corrine

Tramp Amber

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