Rebels Grind Out 2-1 Win Over Coastal Carolina

Feb. 14, 2015

CONWAY, S.C. - In a game characterized by gritty play and clutch performances, the Rebels came out on top thanks to pitching and defense down the stretch as Ole Miss (6-4) defeated Coastal Carolina (4-4) by a score of 2-1 on Saturday in the Battle at the Beach.

Lauren Lindsey picked up her first save of the season, working 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts after entering the game in the fifth inning. Lindsey came to the circle with two runners on and no outs in the sixth inning. After giving up an infield single, she retired three straight batters to keep the Rebels in line for the win.

Emily Gaitan (3-0) picked up the win for the Rebels, working 5.0 innings and allowing one run on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts.

Kiana Quolas (2-3) suffered the loss for the Chanticleers, allowing the two runs - one earned - on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in the game.

"Emily did a great job for us early before we found ourselves in a tough situation late," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith. "Lauren came in for us and was really in beast mode down the stretch. That's the mark of a successful pitcher. We manufactured some runs this afternoon and got some big hits from Bri Payne, Natalie Martinez and Elantra Cox setting the table for us."

Ole Miss got on the board first, using an RBI double from Allison Brown in the third inning to get into the run column. Haley Culley drew a leadoff walk and then took second on a groundout from Grayce Majam. A strikeout put two outs on the board before Brown came up with the two-out hit to left center to bring Culley home and give the Rebels the 1-0 lead.

Coastal Carolina threatened in the home half of the third, using a pair of two-out hits to attempt a rally. A single up the middle with two on base looked like trouble for the Rebels, but Miranda Strother zinged the ball to the plate from center field where the Rebels' Courtney Syrett tossed it to Gaitan for the tag of the runner at the plate to end the inning.

The Chanticleers evened things up in the fourth, using a walk and a sac bunt to put a runner in scoring position before a double to the wall in center from Sara Rasley tied the score at one.

Ole Miss moved back in front in the fifth on a two-out, infield single from Miranda Strother. Elantra Cox reached on a bunt single before taking second on a passed ball. She then scampered to third on a groundout from Allison Brown. Strother then hit a ground ball deep to second and beat the throw safely as Cox scored from third to give the Rebels the 2-1 lead.

Coastal Carolina made its move in the sixth inning, using a pair of walks to start the inning and send the Rebels to the bullpen for Lauren Lindsey. The third batter in the inning hit a ground ball to the right side that resulted in an infield single as the Rebels' Culley dove to stop the ball and keep the runners on the bases

Lindsey then settled in, retiring the next three batters in order to keep the Chanticleers off the board and preserve the lead for the Rebels.

The dramatics continued in the seventh as Coastal Carolina put a runner on base with a one-out single that just missed clearing the wall in center field. Lindsey and the Rebels weren't done, however, as the left-handed pitcher struck out the next batter for the second out of the afternoon. Alex Schneider then secured the win for the Rebels, laying out and diving to catch a foul fly just short of the first base dugout to seal the victory.

Ole Miss will return to action on Sunday morning, facing the Bonnies of St. Bonaventure at 9 a.m. CT in the final game of the weekend for the Rebels at the Battle at the Beach.

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Team Stats

Bri Payne

Elantra Cox

Allison Brown

Miranda Strother

Players Mentioned

Allison Brown

Elantra Cox

Haley Culley

Lauren Lindsey

Grayce Majam

Natalie Martinez

Bri Payne

Alex Schneider

Miranda Strother

Courtney Syrett

The University of Mississippi Athletics