The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
19-13, 0
Arkansas
14-18, 0
Rebels Take Series Opener Over Arkansas
3/27/2015 | Softball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Rebels pounded out 13 hits, including a pair of home runs, on the way to a series-opening win on Friday night as Ole Miss (19-13, 3-7 SEC) defeated Arkansas (14-18, 0-7 SEC) by a score of 7-3.
Allison Brown hit a three-run shot, her fourth home run of the season, while Natalie Martinez hit a two-run shot to tally her fourth home run of the season to help the Rebels to the win. Brown was 4-for-4 on the night with the three RBI and two runs scored.
Madi Osias (4-7) picked up the relief win, working 5.0 innings and allowing one run on three hits with four walks as she entered the game to relieve starter Lauren Lindsey.
Sydney Wright (9-8) took the loss for the Razorbacks, allowing four runs - one earned - on five hits with two walks in 2.2 innings of work.
"This is huge for us to come in and start the series off with a win on the road, especially where we are right now - it's a big series for us," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith. "We had really good energy coming into the game and feeding off the series win against Mississippi State and a win in the midweek. Madi did a really good job of coming in, settling things down and shutting the door for us in the circle."
Arkansas struck first, loading the bases with one out in the home half of the first inning. Loren Krzysko then got a bloop single to left field that brought home two runs and put the Razorbacks on top 2-0.
Ole Miss got a run back in the second when Paige McKinney grounded out to second and scored Allison Brown from third. Brown and Courtney Syrett used back-to-back hits to put two in scoring position before McKinney delivered the RBI on the ground ball to second and cut the lead to 2-1.
Brown then pushed the Rebels in front in the third inning, driving a three-run shot to left center to put Ole Miss on top 4-2. The two-out hit scored Miranda Strother and Alex Schneider who reached on a single and a fielding error at second before Brown came to the plate.
Natalie Martinez extended the lead in the sixth inning with a two-run shot that cleared both fences in left to take the lead out to 6-2.
Alex Schneider kept the scoring going, delivering a double and taking third on a wild pitch before Bri Payne would bring her home with a single to left. Ole Miss would go on to load the bases with two outs, but Arkansas would get out of the inning with a pop up that left the Rebel lead at 7-2.
The Razorbacks cut into the lead in the sixth an RBI double to right from Nicole Schroeder with two outs on the board. Schroeder's hit down the right field line scored Devon Wallace from first. Wallace walked to open the inning before the Rebels got back-to-back outs.
Ole Miss led 7-3 heading into the seventh inning.
The Rebels held Arkansas off the board and allowed only one runner to reach base in the seventh to claim the victory in the series opener. Game two is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday at Bogle Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Osias, Madi (4-7)
L: WRIGHT (9-8)
Batting:
2B: Schneider, Alex 1 ; Syrett, Courtney 1
HR: Martinez, Natalie 1 ; Brown, Allison 1
RBI: Martinez, Natalie 2 ; Payne, Bri 1 ; Brown, Allison 3 ; McKinney, Paige 1
SH: Cox, Elantra 1 ; Martinez, Natalie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cox, Elantra 1 ; Martinez, Natalie 1 ; Strother, Miranda 1 ; Schneider, Alex 2 ; Brown, Allison 2
SB: Cox, Elantra 1
HBP: Majam, Grayce 1
Batting:
2B: SCHROEDER 1
RBI: SCHROEDER 1 ; KRZYSKO 2
SH: BRONKEY 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WALLACE 2 ; CANFIELD 1
SB: WALLACE 1 ; CANFIELD 1
