The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
2-1
Hawai'i
2-0
Rebel Softball Splits Friday Action at Paradise Classic
2/13/2016 | Softball
Game One - Ole Miss 5, St. Mary's 0
Box Score | Final Stats | Photo Gallery
Game Two - Hawaii 3, Ole Miss 0
Box Score | Final Stats | Photo Gallery
HONOLULU - The Rebel softball team split its Friday action at the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic, defeating St. Mary's, 5-0, before falling to tournament host Hawaii, 3-0, in the nightcap.
Junior college transfer Alyssa Clayton had a strong outing in the first matchup of the day, going a complete game with just two hits allowed and no runs. Natalie Martinez led the charge offensively with two RBI in game one off a double in the first.
The Rebel offense got the gears turning late in game two, but couldn't scratch a run across to backup Osias' pitching.
With Friday's results, Ole Miss will play the 9:30 a.m. HST/1:30 p.m. CT game Saturday morning, either against Hawaii or St. Mary's. Saturday's game two and final game of the Paradise Classic is to be determined pending the first game of the day.
Game One - Ole Miss 5, St. Mary's 0
Junior college transfer Alyssa Clayton made the most in her first NCAA Division I debut, allowing just two hits and earning a shutout over the Gaels in a complete-game performance.
The Shelton State (Ala.) transfer jammed St. Mary's hitters early and often, inducing five groundouts back to the circle to make easy work of the Gaels.
She got help early on the offensive side as the Rebels posted a 3-run first inning to give her breathing room in the circle. Freshman Hailey Lunderman got the inning going with a one-out single up the middle and followed with a stolen base to second. Junior Miranda Strother then legged out an infield hit to the shortstop to setup runners at first and second.
Sophomore Alex Schneider delivered one of her two hits on the day in the following at-bat, punching a soft line drive over the head of the first baseman, scoring Lunderman. It was then Natalie Martinez's two RBI double to deep left field that scored two and gave the Rebels an early 3-0 advantage.
Lunderman again got the gears turning in the fifth when she laid down a bunt single, before again stealing second. Her aggressive baserunning moved her to third when Schneider grounded to the pitcher, before later scoring on an illegal pitch.
The next half inning, Clayton worked through adversity stranding two runners after a walk and single through the middle.
The Rebels unloaded the bench in the home half of the sixth and added one insurance run off the bat of senior Madi Osias. Junior transfer Raven Campos fired a single through the left side in her first Division I at-bat, giving way to Melina Preciado, who took her place on the base paths. After Alyssa Invergo drove a single through the middle in a pinch-hit at-bat, freshman Ashton Lampton moved the runners over on a fly to right. Osias then followed with a sacrifice fly to left adding the fifth and final run of the contest.
Lunderman finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Schneider also went 2-for-3. In all the Rebels posted 10 hits in the victory, while Clayton's dominant performance held the Gaels to just two.
Game Two - Hawaii 3, Ole Miss 0
Senior pitcher Madi Osias went strong in her six frames, only allowing three runs off five hits.
The Rainbow Wahine threatened early, but superb defensive play by the Rebel defense prevented early scoring. Hawaii led off the game with a single, then dropped a bloop single into shallow left field, moving the runners to second and third. After a walk to load the bases, freshman Kylan Becker leaped at the left field wall robbing the potential grand slam ball to end the threat.
Hawaii threatened again in the home half of the third with a one-out triple into the right field corner. Osias then hit a batter, but induced a popup to Lunderman at shortstop then got the final out on a strikeout to thwart the Hawaii offense.
The Ole Miss lineup had a chance in the fourth inning when two runners were stranded. Strother roped a ground ball into right, but the fielder playing shallow fired back to first for the out. Schneider then followed with a hard single of her own into left, before Martinez drew a walk to setup two on. But, back-to-back outs ended the Rebel threat keeping the score at 0-0 through four.
The only scoring of the game came in the fifth with Hawaii got a leadoff walk, followed by a single and double scoring one. A sac fly and wild pitch scored the remaining runs, keeping the contest at 3-0 up until the last chance for the Rebels.
Van Schaik got it going with a hit by pitch and Bri Payne followed with a hard single into left. A wild pitch then moved both runners up before pinch hitter Raven Campos drew a walk. But, Lampton struck out swinging and Lunderman grounded out to third ending the threat.
For all Ole Miss Softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Fans can also follow head coach Mike Smith on Twitter at @msmithsb16. Additionally fans can get a behind the scenes look at Ole Miss Athletics on Snapchat under the handle, @WeAreOleMiss.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Aina Cabrale (1-0)
L: Osias, Madi (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Martinez, Natalie 1
SH: Becker, Kylan 1
Base Running:
HBP: Schaik, Sarah 1
Batting:
2B: Lopez, N 1
3B: Lopez, N 1
RBI: Lopez, N 1 ; Morales, H. 1
SF: Morales, H. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Muzik, S. 1 ; Lopez, N 1 ; Ojala, B. 1
SB: Carlos, K. 1
CS: Matagiese, U 1
HBP: Carlos, K. 1 ; Matagiese, U 1
