The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Alabama
Overbeck Homers As Rebels Fall To Top-Ranked Tide
3/16/2012 | Softball
March 16, 2012
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Senior Cali Overbeck smashed her third homer in four games and junior Erinn Jayjohn allowed just three hits in 2.1 innings of relief against the top-ranked team in the nation, but it wasn't enough as Ole Miss fell 12-2 to No. 1 Alabama at Rhoads Stadium on Friday.
Ole Miss (13-10, 2-1 SEC) fell behind early as Alabama (23-0, 4-0 SEC) jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first on a two-out, two-run double to right center by starting pitcher Jackie Traina. Rebel starter Kendall Bruning uncorked a wild pitch later in the frame that allowed a run to score from third and gave the Tide a 3-0 lead.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide tacked on nine more runs in the second highlighted by back-to-back home runs from shortstop Kaila Hunt and catcher Kendall Dawson. That would be all the runs Alabama would score, as Jayjohn shut down the Tide the rest of the way allowing no runs and no hits in her final two innings after entering in relief of Bruning in the second. Bruning (11-3) took the loss after allowing seven earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
Overbeck got Ole Miss on the scoreboard in the top of the third with a towering solo home run to left field. It was Overbeck's third homer in of the season and the 15th long ball of her career. Ole Miss scratched across another run in the top of the fourth on a two-out, RBI single up the middle by catcher Marina Parra.
Ole Miss and Alabama continue their three-game series tomorrow at 5 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU with Mark Neely handling the play-by-play duties and former Olympian Michelle Smith providing serving as color analyst.
