The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
29-20, 6-14
South Carolina
33-18, 7-13
Rebels Grab 5-2 Win Over South Carolina
4/25/2015 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. -- Miranda Strother hit her sixth home run of the season, a three-run shot in the fifth inning, to cap a five-run rally for the Rebels as Ole Miss (29-19, 6-13 SEC) defeated South Carolina (32-18, 6-13 SEC) by a score of 5-2 Saturday afternoon in game two of the weekend series.
The game, which was played before a rain-suspended game one would be resumed Saturday evening, saw the Gamecocks strike first. Junior pitcher Madi Osias held the visiting team in check throughout, allowing Ole Miss the opportunity to rally for the win.
Osias (11-11) picked up the win in the complete game, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Julie Sarratt (16-10) took the loss for the Gamecocks, allowing the five runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
"We've talked about putting everything together, and when we do that we're a good ball club," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith. "That's what we did today. We stayed the course. We didn't do what we needed to early, but we kept playing and saw the ball deeper in the zone late in the game. This squad is a resilient bunch and is going to keep playing hard no matter what the score is on the board."
South Carolina struck first, pushing a run home in the second inning when Sarah Mooney scored on a single to right from Krystan White. Mooney reached on a double to get into scoring position for the White hit that put the Gamecocks in the lead.
The two teams settled into a pitching and defensive duel from there with each team recording outs as needed to keep the opponent off the board. Ole Miss broke that open in the fifth inning, pushing five runs across with well-placed bunts, solid base running and the Strother home run.
A single and a double from Bri Payne and Alyssa Invergo put two in scoring position to start the inning for the Rebels. Courtney Syrett then lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt down the third base line and the Gamecocks elected to go home to try to retire pinch runner Paige McKinney. McKinney slid in safely as the throw home from the pitcher sailed high, allowing Invergo to also scamper home on the play as Ole Miss took a 2-1 lead.
Natalie Martinez then drew a two-out walk a few batters later to keep the inning alive before Miranda Strother then drove her home run over the wall in center field to give Ole Miss the 5-2 lead on the Gamecocks.
South Carolina got a run back in the sixth, using a two-out rally that was sparked by back-to-back batters who were hit by pitch to keep the inning alive. Taylor Williams then delivered an RBI single to get the run home before Ole Miss would once again get out of the inning.
Osias and the Rebel defense retired the side in order in the seventh to claim the victory.
Ole Miss and South Carolina will take the field again at 6:30 p.m. to complete the Friday night game that was suspended due to rain.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Julie Sarratt (17-10)
L: Osias, Madi (11-12)
Batting:
2B: Alaynie Page 1
HR: Sarah Mooney 1
RBI: Alaynie Page 1 ; Kristen Struett 1 ; Victoria Williams 1 ; Ansley Ard 1 ; Lauren Masters 1 ; Sarah Mooney 2 ; Krystan White 1 ; Caroline Cash 1
SH: Jordan Bizzell 1
SF: Krystan White 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alaynie Page 2 ; Ansley Ard 1 ; Jordyn Augustus 1 ; Lauren Masters 2 ; Taylor Williams 2 ; Sarah Mooney 1 ; Kamryn Watts 1
SB: Alaynie Page 1 ; Ansley Ard 1
Batting:
HR: Brown, Allison 1
RBI: Brown, Allison 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Strother, Miranda 1 ; Brown, Allison 1
CS: Cox, Elantra 1
