The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
24-5, 2-2
#13 Kentucky
23-4, 3-1
Rebels Take Series Opener Over No. 13 Kentucky
3/18/2016 | Softball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ole Miss softball entered the weekend looking to pick up back-to-back, top-25 SEC wins, and got just that with a huge 3-1 victory over No. 13 Kentucky Friday night at John Cropp Stadium.
The win over the Wildcats (23-4, 3-1 SEC) is the first for Ole Miss since March 8, 2013, also a 3-1 contest that took place in Lexington.
It was junior Courtney Syrett's 3-run blast over the 10-foot high wall in left-center field that proved to be the difference as the Rebels (24-5, 2-2 SEC) picked up their second-straight SEC win over a top-25 program.
The two sides traded quick frames through the first two innings as neither team got a baserunner up until the bottom half of the third. Overall, senior pitcher Madi Osias held Kentucky to just six baserunners, while the Rebels were limited to five.
The productive fourth inning started out with two outs, but Miranda Strother began the two-out rally when she roped a triple into left field that the left fielder lost in the sun. Freshman Ashton Lampton followed with a walk on a full count, before Syrett's second blast of the season and fifth of her career gave the Rebels a 3-0 advantage.
Kentucky's lone run came off an RBI single up the middle in the home half of the fourth, but Osias limited the damage when Kylan Becker handled a fly to right, then fired a rope home for the double play to get the Rebels out of the inning.
Osias improved her season record to 13-1, extending her school record win streak to 12 consecutive wins. She allowed just four Wildcat hits and struck out three in her 17th appearance of the season.
Syrett finished 2-for-3 with a double and the home run, setting a new career high with three RBI. Elantra Cox and Strother both finished 1-for-3 at the plate for the Rebel offense.
The Rebels handed Kentucky pitcher Kelsey Nunley just her second loss of the season as she fell to 10-2 on the year. The two teams return to John Cropp Stadium for game two of the series Saturday at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT.
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: Osias, Madi (13-1)
L: Nunley,K (10-2)
Batting:
2B: Syrett, Courtney 1
3B: Strother, Miranda 1
HR: Syrett, Courtney 1
RBI: Syrett, Courtney 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Strother, Miranda 1 ; Lampton, Ashton 1 ; Syrett, Courtney 1
Batting:
RBI: Stokes,C 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cheek 1
HBP: Cheek 1
