The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
26-19
Louisville
24-14
Rebels Down Louisville 5-2
4/18/2015 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. -- The Rebels got a solid pitching on the afternoon and struck early with five runs through the first three innings as Ole Miss (26-19) defeated Louisville (24-14) by a score of 5-2 Saturday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
Madi Osias (10-11) picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits with a strikeout through 5.0 innings of work on the afternoon. Kayla Landwehrmier then picked up the save, her second of the season, working the final 2.0 innings without allowing a run or a hit as the Rebels picked up the win.
Maryssa Becker (10-5) took the loss for the Cardinals, allowing two runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in 1.0 inning of work. Shelby McCombs closed out the game, pitching the final 5.0 innings for Louisville and allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
"Today is what I've talked about all year," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith. "When we put everything together, we play great softball. We executed well and got great defense, timely hitting and solid pitching in the circle. When we do that we are a pretty good ball club. That's a great team in the other dugout in Louisville and that's a good win for us. I'm proud of the work this team has put in to get to this point."
Ole Miss scored first in the contest, pushing two runs home in the first inning to take the early lead on the Cardinals. Elantra Cox drew a walk to reach base before stealing second. She then came home on a double down the left field line from Miranda Strother to get the first run on the board. Alex Schneider then hit an infield single to short to put runners at the corners before Allison Brown sent an RBI single through the left side to score Strother and put the Rebels on top 2-0.
The Rebels added to the lead in the second inning, pushing two more runs across the plate by taking advantage of miscues by the Cardinals. Courtney Syrett opened the inning with a triple before coming home on an illegal pitch. Cox then reached on an infield single, stole second and took third on a groundout to first. She then came home on a wild pitch to give Ole Miss a 4-0 lead after two innings of play.
Ole Miss added a fifth run in the fourth inning when Allison Brown hit a solo shot down the left field line to give the Rebels a 5-0 lead.
Kayla Soles hit a two-run shot to center field in the fifth inning to get the Cardinals on the board, driving in Brittany Sims from first after Sims reached on a single to open the inning. Ole Miss would get out of the inning with no more damage and the three-run lead.
Landwehrmier then shut down Louisville through the sixth and seventh innings to preserve the victory and pick up her second save of the season.
Ole Miss and Louisville will close out the weekend of play at 1 p.m. on Sunday in a rain-shortened series.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Osias, Madi (10-11)
L: Maryssa Becker (10-5)
S: Landwehrmier, Kayla (2)
Batting:
2B: Nicole Pufahl 1 ; Whitney Arion 1
HR: Kayla Soles 1
RBI: Kayla Soles 2
SH: Kristina Dillard 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brittany Sims 1 ; Kayla Soles 1
HBP: Brittany Sims 1 ; Brittany Duncan 1
Batting:
2B: Strother, Miranda 1
3B: Syrett, Courtney 1
HR: Brown, Allison 1
RBI: Strother, Miranda 1 ; Brown, Allison 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Cox, Elantra 2 ; Strother, Miranda 1 ; Brown, Allison 1 ; Syrett, Courtney 1
SB: Cox, Elantra 2
CS: Morgan, Jamie 1
