The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
22-7, 0-4
#19 Tennessee
24-5, 4-3
No. 23 Rebels Drop Series Opener to No. 19 Tennessee
3/24/2017 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - No. 23 Ole Miss hung with No. 19 Tennessee through the first four frames, but a 7-run fifth inning was the difference as the Vols won Friday's series opener, 8-0, at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Junior RHP Kaitlin Lee was efficient through the first four frames allowing only one run in the second, as she struck out a career-high seven batters through just 4.1 innings of work. Brittany Finney entered in the fifth with two outs allowing two runs, one earned, off three hits.
The Rebels (22-7, 0-4 SEC) had their chances early after stranding the bases loaded in the first, and leaving two on in the fourth, but could only manage two hits in the loss. Miranda Strother had a single in the first inning, and Alyssa Gonzalez punched a single through the left side in the fourth. Sarah Van Schaik drew two walks, while Elantra Cox had one.
Cox led off the game with a 4-pitch walk, then Strother singled to left, before Van Schaik drew a walk to load the bases. But, a foul out in front of third ended the threat keeping Ole Miss off the board early on.
The Vols (24-5, 4-3 SEC) put two on in their first chance at the plate after an infield single and a walk, but Lee worked a fly to left and strikeout ending the first as the two teams combined to strand five baserunners.
Tennessee struck first in the second with a single run after two-straight doubles opened the frame, but Lee again worked a strikeout ending it. She again worked out of potential trouble in the third after a single off the wall and a walk, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the Vols' half of the third keeping the score at 1-0.
The Rebels again had a chance in the fourth when Van Schaik walked and Gonzalez singled, but a foul out and groundout stranded two more runners keeping Ole Miss off the board.
Tennessee began its fifth with a leadoff triple off the wall in center, before the second hitter reached off an infield single. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases, a grounder went to Stancil at third and her throw home for the force was on target, but Van Schaik's foot never tagged home making it a 2-0 game. From there, the Vols added two more off a single chasing Lee in the circle, before Finney entered and gave up a 3-run home run and infield single ending the contest.
Quick Hits
- Junior RHP Kaitlin Lee struck out a career high seven batters in her 4.1 innings of work, and worked to strand five Tennessee hitters.
- Sophomore C Sarah Van Schaik tied her career high with two walks on the night in what was her fifth-straight start.
- Ole Miss has now had a different starting lineup in seven-straight games.
On Deck
No. 23 Ole Miss continues the series with No. 19 Tennessee on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT. The middle game of the series will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network with Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Jenny Dalton-Hill (analyst) on the call.
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: Matty Moss (13-1)
L: Lee, Kaitlin (6-3)
Batting:
2B: Brooke Vines 1 ; Taylor Rowland 1
3B: Aubrey Leach 1
HR: Taylor Rowland 1
RBI: Brooke Vines 2 ; Taylor Rowland 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Aubrey Leach 1 ; Jenna Holcomb 1 ; Meghan Gregg 1 ; Megan Geer 1 ; Brooke Vines 2 ; Taylor Rowland 1 ; Tianna Batts 1
SB: Aubrey Leach 1 ; Jenna Holcomb 1 ; Brooke Vines 1 ; CJ McClain 1
CS: Sheridan Allen 1
HBP: Meghan Gregg 1
