The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
22-6
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Mississippi State
22-8
Mississippi Girls Shine in Shutout Over Mississippi State
3/22/2017 | Softball
Box Score | McKinney Postgame Interview
OXFORD, Miss. - Junior RHP Kaitlin Lee threw a 4-hit shutout, and a pair of Mississippi girls in Ashton Lampton and Paige McKinney both finished with an RBI, leading No. 23 Ole Miss softball past its rival Mississippi State, 2-0, Wednesday night.
In front of a vibrant crowd of 978 fans, sixth-largest in school history, the Rebels (22-6) took an early lead from the start, and dominated in the field and in the circle winning their second-straight over the Bulldogs (22-8). Lee, a native of Gulfport, was dominant in her 10th start of 2017, allowing only four hits scattered across four different innings while striking out four. The transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast finished with no walks in her third complete game of the season.
Offensively, Ole Miss tallied six hits from five different players, led by two from Kylan Becker who finished 2-for-3. Elantra Cox added one with a run scored from the leadoff spot, while Miranda Strother, Sarah Van Schaik and McKinney all had one hit each.
The Bulldogs threatened early on after the leadoff hitter reached on an error, but Lee worked around that and a sacrifice bunt with a pair of groundouts escaping the early trouble. The Rebels responded in their first chance at the plate, as Cox reached on an infield single before moving up to second on an errant throw. After Becker put down a perfect bunt for a hit, Strother walked and Lampton drew a hit by pitch for an easy RBI, scoring Cox to put the Rebels in front 1-0.
Mississippi State again put its leadoff hitter aboard in the second, but a sac bunt attempt was no good, and Lee again worked out of it to retire the Bulldogs. In the home half of the second, McKinney drew one of the Rebels' three walks on the night, but back-to-back fielders' choice plays and Cox caught stealing at second ended any threat for more runs.
The middle innings produced nothing for either side as both pitchers settled in for the most part, before the sixth saw six Ole Miss hitters head to the plate. Van Schaik got the rally started off a hard single to center field, before Bry Castro pinch ran for her. A groundout to short moved her to second, and McKinney's clutch RBI single up the middle scored her, pushing the Rebels' advantage to 2-0.
The Bulldogs went on to threaten in the seventh as the leadoff hitter reached after being hit by a pitch, and a single put runners at the corners, but Lee closed it out with a groundout capping off the complete-game shutout.
Quick Hits
- Junior RHP Kaitlin Lee worked her fourth complete game of 2017, and second seven inning shutout. She's now gone 10 games with two earned runs or less allowed, six of which were starts.
- Junior Paige McKinney started her second straight game at second base and had the Rebels' RBI in the sixth inning, her second of the season.
- Sophomore SS Ashton Lampton logged her team-best 30th RBI of the season, her 13th game with an RBI this season.
- All four Mississippi players were vital in the win Wednesday night, as sophomore C Sarah Van Schaik had the single to begin the sixth-inning rally, Lampton and McKinney both had the RBI, and Lee earned the win in the circle.
- The Rebels played in front of an energetic crowd of 978 fans, largest this season and sixth-largest in school history.
- The shutout for the Rebels was the eighth all-time in the series with its rival, and first since the 2011 season in a 6-0 victory in Starkville.
- Wednesday's win marked a key RPI victory for Ole Miss, as Mississippi State was ranked No. 27 in the first official release of the RPI this past week.
- Ole Miss' starting lineup has now featured a different batting order in six-straight games.
- The midweek ended a 14-game homestand for the Rebels, as Ole Miss completed more than half of its 2017 home slate within the last 22 days.
On Deck
No. 23 Ole Miss treks east for its first SEC road matchup of the season in a three-game set against No. 19 Tennessee Friday-Sunday in Knoxville. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT on both Friday and Saturday, while Sunday's finale is slated for a 12:30 p.m. CT start. Saturday's game will be featured to a national audience on SEC Network, and Friday and Sunday's games will be available on WatchESPN and the ESPN app via SEC Network +.
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: Lee, Kaitlin (6-2)
L: Holly Ward (5-4)
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Batting:
SH: Kat Moore 1
Base Running:
SB: Bevia Robinson 1
HBP: Caroline Seitz 2
Batting:
RBI: Lampton, Ashton 1 ; McKinney, Paige 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cox, Elantra 1 ; Castro, Bry 1
SB: Becker, Kylan 1
CS: Cox, Elantra 1
HBP: Lampton, Ashton 1
