The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
13-8, 0-3
Alabama
18-4, 3-0
Rebels Fall In Series Finale At No. 4 Alabama
3/8/2015 | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Rebels couldn't solve the pitching rotation of the Crimson Tide on Sunday as Ole Miss (13-8, 0-3 SEC) fell to fourth-ranked Alabama (18-4, 3-0 SEC) by a score of 10-0 in the series finale of the opening weekend of Southeastern Conference play.
Madi Osias (2-5) took the loss for the Rebels, allowing 10 runs - five of them earned - on nine hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work. Senior Lauren Lindsey entered the game in the second to relieve Osias and worked the final 2.1 innings with three walks and one hit.
Sydney Littlejohn (8-0) picked up the win for the Crimson Tide, striking out six through the 5.0 innings and not allowing a hit as she tossed a perfect game.
"Tip your cap to Littlejohn because she kept us off balance," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith. "This game is about competing and a will to win. We are lacking the will to compete and the will to win right now. We have to find that as we head into SEC play. We have to figure out what our identity is because we don't have an identity right now. We thought we had one, but we didn't come to compete this weekend. I don't know if we decided to start spring break early, but if you don't come ready to compete in the SEC you won't win. We have to find some competitors."
Alabama got things started in the first inning, using a single and an error on a sac bunt attempt to put runners at the corners out of the gates. The Crimson Tide then stole second to put two in scoring position before Melissa Runyan would drive a double to right field to put Alabama on top 2-0. An RBI single from Leona Lafaele two batters later took the lead out to three runs.
Alabama continued the two out rally with back to back hits - a single and a double - extending the lead to 5-0 in the first and pushing the Rebels into a visit to the circle to settle things down.
Osias struck out the next batter looking to end the inning.
With the bases loaded in the second inning, the Rebels looked to escape the jam with a ground ball to short, but a fielding error allowed the runner to reach safely as two runs scored and kept the inning alive. With two in scoring position after the error, another bloop single to shallow right brought home two more runs.
Following an RBI double to right, the Rebels turned to the bullpen for Lauren Lindsey as the Crimson Tide moved the lead out to 10-0 with the two-out rally in the second inning.
The senior got a fly out to end the inning and send the game into the third inning.
Lindsey held the Crimson Tide off the board the rest of the way, but the Rebels couldn't find an answer offensively as Alabama picked up the 10-0 victory.
Ole Miss will return to action on Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader against Arkansas-Pine Bluff beginning at 4 p.m. at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. The doubleheader will kick off a 10-game home stand for the Rebels.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Littlejohn (8-0)
L: Osias, Madi (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Runyon 1 ; Bell 1
RBI: Runyon 2 ; Lafaele 1 ; Hays 2 ; Bell 3
Base Running:
RUNS: McCleney 2 ; Turner 2 ; Spencer 1 ; Runyon 1 ; Lafaele 2 ; Hays 2
SB: Turner 2
