The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
24-11, 0
#16 Kentucky
24-8, 0
Lee Shines as Rebels Win Series Over No. 16 Kentucky
4/2/2017 | Softball
Box Score | Lee Postgame Interview
OXFORD, Miss. - For the second time this weekend, junior Kaitlin Lee dominated in a complete game effort, leading No. 24 Ole Miss to a 4-0 shutout over No. 16 Kentucky Sunday afternoon claiming the series.
In her third appearance against the Wildcats (24-8, 5-4 SEC), the JUCO transfer was lights out, allowing only five hits with no walks and a pair of strikeouts. It marked her second complete game of the series, as she improves to 8-4. Behind her, the Rebels' (24-11, 2-7 SEC) defense was just as efficient, helping turn a double play in the fourth in a key moment in the game.
Offensively, Ole Miss took an early 1-0 lead in the first, and used a big 3-run sixth to add a trio of insurance runs. Sarah Van Schaik, who powered two home runs in Friday's 7-1 win, picked up an RBI in the first. Kaylee Horton and Elantra Cox added the other RBI in the sixth, while the Rebels tallied nine total hits against UK's Shannon Smith and Meagan Prince.
Ole Miss kicked its offense into motion early on when Cox reached on a leadoff walk and Kylan Becker singled sharply to left. After a fielders' choice for the first out, Van Schaik singled to center scoring Becker, putting the Rebels on top 1-0.
Kentucky threatened in the third after a leadoff bunt single, then sacrifice bunt allowed the runner to advance all the way to third. But, Lee worked a big strikeout and a groundout stranding the runner there, keeping the Rebels on top 1-0.
The Wildcats had their biggest chance of the afternoon in the fourth when Alex Martens reached after being hit by a pitch, and Jenny Schaper dropped a bloop single to center putting two on with no outs. But, in the very next at-bat, Breanne Ray lined out to Paige McKinney at short and she turned the double play thwarting any threat from UK.
Kentucky again put pressure on in the fifth after a 1-out double from Bailey Vick and she moved to third on a groundout, but Lee again got Erin Rethlake on a strikeout to strand another runner in scoring position. From there, Lee was in cruise control as she retired the final six Wildcats in order.
The Rebels scored three more in the sixth when Dylinn Stancil got the frame started with a pinch hit single back up the middle, and Courtney Syrett also singled through the left side. Alyssa Gonzalez then delivered a pinch hit single, before Horton reached on a fielders' choice to second, when everybody was safe scoring Grayce Majam for a 2-0 lead. After a double play to third scored McKinney, Cox singled back up the middle scoring Horton, capping the scoring at four runs for Ole Miss.
Cox finished the game going 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, while Kylan Becker again had a solid day at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance and a run scored.
Quick Hits
- Junior RHP Kaitlin Lee worked her second complete game of the weekend, and sixth of the season. She earned her third shutout of the season, and gave up only one run in the series in 15 innings of work.
- Sophomore OF Kylan Becker again tied her career high with a three-hit day (3-for-4), scoring a run in her 12th multi-hit game of the season.
- Junior OF Elantra Cox extended her reached-base streak to eight games, and has hit safely in five straight after recording an RBI single in the sixth.
- For the 13th straight game, Ole Miss had a different starting lineup, which was the 19th different lineup of the season.
- Ole Miss handed Kentucky its first shutout of the season, and gave up just two runs in the series.
- The series win marked the first for the Rebels over Kentucky since 2006, when Ole Miss swept that series in Oxford.
On Deck
Following a quick turnaround, Ole Miss will host Central Arkansas Tuesday at 6 p.m. The game will be shown on SEC Network + through WatchESPN and the ESPN app.
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 (8-4)
L: Shannon Smith (6-3)
Batting:
2B: Bailey Vick 1
SH: Katie Reed 1
Base Running:
HBP: Alex Martens 1
Batting:
RBI: Cox, Elantra 1 ; Sarah Van Schaik 1 ; Horton, Kaylee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Becker, Kylan 1 ; Grayce Majam 1 ; McKinney, Paige 1 ; Horton, Kaylee 1
SB: Becker, Kylan 1
HBP: Syrett, Courtney 1
