The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
23-17, 5-11
Georgia
33-10, 9-7
Rebels Fall In Series Opener With Georgia
4/10/2015 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. -- It was anyone's game heading into the final inning, but the visiting Bulldogs broke things open in the final frame as Ole Miss (23-17, 5-11 SEC) fell to No. 12 Georgia (33-10, 9-7 SEC) by a score of 8-0 on Friday night in game one of a weekend series.
Madi Osias (7-10) suffered the loss for the Rebels, allowing eight runs -- seven earned -- on 11 hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. Osias allowed only two earned runs through the first six innings before the Bulldogs would put together the big rally in the seventh.
Chelsea Wilkinson (19-6) picked up the win for the Bulldogs, allowing one hit with eight strikeouts through 6.0 innings of work.
"Even though we only had the one hit, we were in the ball game until the final inning," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith. "That was one of Madi's better performances of the season until the seventh. She kept hitters off balance and was able to use her other pitches, we have to play defense behind her. We got only one hit, and you have to tip your hat to their pitcher, but when you're only down three runs you have a chance. We still have a chance to win the series and we have to look forward and not be scared to play."
Georgia got on the board in the second inning, getting a two-out single through the right side from Niaja Griffin that scored Anna Swafford from second. Swafford reached on a single up the middle before stealing second to set up the two-out RBI from Griffin that gave the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs continued to score in the third inning, pushing two runs home with the help of a fielding error to start the rally. Katie Browne reached on a fielding error at short to open the inning before back-to-back singles from Cortni and Sydni Emmanuel brought her home. A one-out single from Alex Hugo then scored the younger Emmanuel and Georgia held a 3-0 lead after the third.
The Rebels broke into the hit column in the fifth inning with a single to right from Alex Schneider, but couldn't get her home as the Bulldogs shut down the rally attempt from the home team and maintained the three-run lead.
Georgia broke things open in the seventh inning, using four singles and a two-run home run from Hugo to push five runs across the plate for the final 8-0 margin of victory.
The two teams will take the field again at 3 p.m. Saturday for game two of the series as a part of the Regions Bank Grove Bowl weekend on campus.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chelsea Wilkinson (19-6)
L: Osias, Madi (7-10)
Batting:
HR: Anna Swafford 1
RBI: Sydni Emanuel 1 ; Paige Wilson 2 ; Alex Hugo 1 ; Anna Swafford 2 ; Niaja Griffin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cortni Emanuel 2 ; Sydni Emanuel 1 ; Alex Hugo 1 ; Anna Swafford 2 ; Katie Browne 1 ; Chaycie Goggins 1
SB: Samantha LaZear 1 ; Niaja Griffin 1
CS: Paige Wilson 1
HBP: Kaylee Puailoa 1
