The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Softball Drops Series To No. 4 Tennessee
3/11/2023 | Softball
Rebels Back in Action At Southern Miss
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ole Miss softball battled with the No. 4 team in the nation on Saturday, falling to Tennessee in both games of the doubleheader at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
GAME ONE: OLE MISS 2, TENNESSEE 8
The first home run of Jalia Lassiter's career gave Ole Miss an early 2-0 lead over Tennessee, but the Rebels' bats couldn't keep up as the Lady Vols went on to win 8-2 in game one.
Tate Whitley led off the game with an infield hit, a slow roller to the shortstop, and brought Lassiter to the plate. The freshman jumped on the 1-2 pitch and tomahawked it over the left field fence to give Ole Miss the early lead.
Tennessee answered, plating three in the bottom half of the first. The Lady Vols worked quickly, hitting a solo home run and a two-RBI single a few batters later to retake the lead.
After the Rebels were retired in order, the Lady Vols load bases with two outs and added to their lead. They plated two runs on a single to center field. The relay throw from Lassiter nearly caught the runner at the plate, but the play was upheld as called, making it a 5-3 lead for Tennessee.
The Lady Vols began to put things out of reach in the bottom of the fourth. A three-run home run pushed their lead to 8-2. Ole Miss held Tennessee off the board the rest of the way but couldn't muster up any offense to climb back into the contest.
GAME TWO: OLE MISS 0, TENNESSEE 1
Both teams combined for three hits in game two as the Rebels fell 1-0 in a pitcher's duel to No. 4 Tennessee. Back in the circle for the first time in a month, Catelyn Riley was stellar in the circle, only allowing two hits in six complete innings.
Ole Miss looks to strike first after Whitley walked and went first to third on a sacrifice bunt, but the Rebels couldn't capitalize on the early scoring opportunity.
The defense held strong with Riley in the circle. Lassiter made a diving catch in the gap to end the second inning and robbed an extra-base hit, and Riley escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third, forcing a lineout to right.
The Rebels had one of their best chances offensively in the fifth. Savana Sikes led off the inning with a double to left field but got caught in a rundown the very next play on a fielder's choice. Nonetheless, Ole Miss charged on to load the bases on back-to-back free passes with one out. Tennessee escaped the inning and kept the ballgame scoreless using a strikeout and a flyout.
Tennessee took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run that was nearly robbed by Nyomi Jones in right field. Ole Miss' offense was unable to get anything going in the final two innings as the Lady Vols clung on to their one-run lead.
The Rebels round out their four-game road trip at Southern Miss on Wednesday, March 15, at 6 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 @olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
