The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
10-4
Florida International
11-7
Rebels Down Bethune Cookman, FIU
2/27/2015 | Softball
MIAMI, Fla. - The Ole Miss softball team opened the weekend with a strong performance Friday, rallying to defeat Bethune Cookman in game one of the day before carrying the momentum over into a shutout of host FIU at the Felsberg Invitational.
Ole Miss (10-4) pushed four runs across the plate in the seventh inning on the way to a 6-5, extra-inning win over Bethune Cookman (4-10) in the first game of the day before posting a 5-0 shutout of FIU (11-7) in the second game of the afternoon.
"I didn't recognize the Ole Miss team that showed up for the first six innings today," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith. "It felt like we'd taken an international flight to get here. I challenged their energy after the sixth inning and told them to play for the name on the jersey and what we're about as a program. Things started to happen one after another and I knew once we tied it up we would get the win.
"Game two was just total domination by Emily (Gaitan) in the circle," Smith said. "She induced lots of ground balls and we put together the big inning in the second with three runs on the board. We added some insurance runs in the seventh. It was a fun day and a good day for the players and fans who came out. We're looking forward to getting back at it Saturday."
Ole Miss will return to action at the Felsberg Invitational with a pair of games on Saturday. The Rebels take on Michigan State at 10 a.m. CT before facing Bethune Cookman for a second time on the weekend at 12:30 p.m. CT.
OLE MISS 5, FIU 0
Emily Gaitan (6-0) capped a solid day in the circle with the second of her two wins, pitching a shutout of FIU as she allowed only three hits with three walks and three strikeouts in the complete-game.
Corinne Jenkins (6-5) took the loss for FIU, allowing the five runs on nine hits with three walks and five strikeouts through her 7.0 innings of work.
Ole Miss got things started in the second inning, loading the bases with the first three batters of the inning to bring Courtney Syrett to the plate. Syrett then drove a single to center, scoring Alex Schneider from third to get the Rebels on the board and keep the bases loaded. Grayce Majam then drove a single through the right side, bringing home two more runs and taking second on the throw home as the third Rebel baserunner was caught in a rundown.
The Rebels couldn't get another run home, but held a 3-0 lead after the top of the second.
FIU looked to get on the board in the fourth inning, putting two runners in scoring position with two outs following a fielding error at short on a play that the Rebels argued was interference on the baserunner and a wild pitch. Gaitan settled in the circle and delivered a strikeout of the next batter to end the inning, however, and keep the Rebels on top 3-0.
The Panthers looked to break through again in the fifth inning, loading the bases with three consecutive two-out singles. Gaitan and the Rebels responded again as the pitcher got a groundball from the batter and Allison Brown made a nice pick on the play and tagged the bag for the force out to end the inning and preserve the shutout through five innings.
Ole Miss added two more runs in the seventh inning when Bri Payne delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to right center to take the lead out to 5-0 in favor of the Rebels.
Gaitan and the Rebels then retired the side in order to preserve the shutout win.
OLE MISS 6, BETHUNE COOKMAN 5 (8 INNINGS)
Gaitan came out of the bullpen and picked up the win for the Rebels, holding Bethune Cookman off the board in the eighth inning as the Rebels rallied to pick up a 6-5 win over the Wildcats. Gaitan allowed a walk and struck out one in her inning of work.
Sabrina Anguiano (2-10) suffered the loss for Bethune Cookman, working 7.0 innings and allowing four runs on 12 hits with four walks and two strikeouts on the afternoon.
Ole Miss struck first in the contest, taking advantage of an infield single with two outs from Alyssa Invergo to put together a rally. Grayce Majam came to the plate following the infield hit from Invergo and belted out a triple to left center, bringing Invergo home and putting the Rebels on the board.
The Wildcats evened things up in the top of the third, capitalizing on a fielding error at second base to keep the inning alive before recording a pair of infield hits in consecutive at bats to bring the game-tying run home. A double to center from the third batter following the error brought two more runs home and Bethune Cookman held a 3-1 lead as the Rebels came back to the plate in the third.
Nereyda Gutierrez took the lead out to 4-1 in the fourth, opening the inning with a solo shot to right center for the Wildcats. Ole Miss then turned to the bullpen for Lindsey to try to keep things in check for the Rebels.
Bethune Cookman would go on to load the bases from there before a ground ball to second with one out brought another run home and left two in scoring position. The Rebels would get out of the inning with no more damage thanks to a ground ball to short, but trailed 5-1 after four innings of play.
Ole Miss cut into the lead in the seventh, putting Elantra Cox and Allison Brown on with back-to-back walks before an RBI double from Bri Payne with one out got a run home. A single to short from Lauren Lindsey then brought a second run home as the Rebels cut the lead to 5-3. Courtney Syrett then tied the game with a single through the right side and two runs scored and the game moved into extra innings.
With the game in extra innings, the Rebels continued to put the pressure on the Wildcats with back-to-back singles from Cox and Brown. Miranda Strother then singled up the middle to bring Cox home and give the Rebels the 6-5 win.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Emily Gaitan (6-0)
L: Jenkins, Cor (6-5)
Batting:
2B: Syrett, Courtney 1
RBI: Payne, Bri 2 ; Syrett, Courtney 1 ; Majam, Grayce 2
SH: Cox, Elantra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McKinney, Paige 1 ; Schneider, Alex 1 ; Invergo, Alyssa 1 ; Culley, Haley 1 ; Preciado, Melina 1
CS: Cox, Elantra 1
