The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Troy
Cantillo, Ladner Ignite Rebels After Rain Delay
3/2/2012 | Softball
March 2, 2012
OXFORD, Miss. - Trailing 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning against Tennessee-Chattanooga, Ole Miss exploded for seven runs following an hour and a half rain delay, highlighted by back-to-back home runs from RT Cantillo and Londen Ladner, en route to a 9-6 victory over the Lady Mocs in game one of the Red and Blue Classic on Friday.
Ole Miss (6-5) dropped game two, 5-1, to Troy and will continue play at the Red and Blue Classic tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. against Belmont before seeded play begins.
Game One
Sophomore RT Cantillo knocked in a career-high four runs and smashed her first career home run, as Ole Miss posted a come-from-behind 9-6 victory over Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Following a one hour, thirty-three minute rain delay in the middle of the fifth, Ole Miss starting pitcher Kendall Bruning led off the bottom of the frame with a single down the left field line and was pinch ran for by Dallas Hardin. Catcher Marina Parra then walked and Amanda Hutcheson laid down a bunt single that loaded the bases. Third baseman Cali Overbeck laced a double off the wall in right that plated Hardin and Parra and cut the Lady Moc lead to 5-2. After pinch hitter Natalie Nimmo grounded out to third, Kelly Chandler grounded to the shortstop but Chattanooga first baseman Kasey Tydingco muffed the throw and allowed Hutcheson and Overbeck to score on the play.
Cantillo then belted a two-run home run over the wall in left that gave the Rebels a 6-5 lead and third baseman Londen Lander followed with a solo homer that put Ole Miss up 7-5 after five. Cantillo added a two-run single in the sixth that extended the Rebel lead to 9-5.
Cantillo went 2-for-4 at the plate with a career-high four RBI and a run scored, while Ladner added two hits, including her second homer of the season, and an RBI. Overbeck singled and doubled in three at-bats and added two RBIs and two runs scored.
Chattanooga grabbed 1-0 lead in the top of the second after shortstop Jessica Traxler led the frame off with a single up the middle and later scored on a wild pitch by Bruning. Centerfielder Cheyenne Willis extended the UTC lead with a two-run triple to right center in the fourth and Nicole Osterman added an RBI single in the fifth that put the Lady Mocs up 5-0.
Bruning (5-2) picked up the complete-game victory after allowing six runs, three earned, on 10 hits in 7.0 innings. She struck out six and walked four in the complete-game effort.
Game Two
Erinn Jayjohn allowed just two hits in a career-long 5.0 innings of scoreless relief, but Ole Miss dropped the second game of the Red and Blue Classic 5-1 to Troy on Friday night.
Jayjohn entered in relief of starter Kelly Chandler in the third and shut down the Trojan offense, limiting them to just two hits while striking out one and walking one. Chandler started for the Rebels and allowed five runs, three earned, on four hits in 2.0 innings of work.
Troy took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to an RBI double from first baseman Hayden Gann. The Trojans added four more runs in the second aided by two walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball to take a 5-0 lead.
Ole Miss scratched across a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double to left center from third baseman Cali Overbeck. Senior Amanda Hutcheson also singled in three at-bats and scored the Rebels' only run.
