The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
16-12
Purdue
14-12
Big First Innings Propel Softball To Day Two Sweep At Rebel Invitational
3/18/2023 | Softball
16 Different Rebels Score Runs
OXFORD, Miss. – Despite a cold day at the ballpark, Ole Miss softball's offense was red hot as the Rebels racked up 25 runs on 21 hits in their two run-rule victories over Purdue and St. Thomas on day two of the Rebel Invitational.
The Rebels (17-12) used big first innings, combining for 12 runs in the opening frame on the day. In total, 16 different Rebels crossed the plate out of 17 that appeared on offense and seven finished the day with multiple hits. Ole Miss also looked sharp in the circle, holding Purdue and St. Thomas to one earned run.
GAME ONE: OLE MISS 12, PURDUE 2
Ole Miss scored in every inning against the Boilermakers en route to a 12-2 run-rule victory to start the day. The Rebel offense tallied seven hits and took advantage of seven walks on the afternoon. Makenna Kliethermes went the full 5.0 innings in the circle, holding Purdue to one hit while striking out six.
The Rebels wasted no time, hanging seven on the visitors in the first inning. They quickly loaded the bases on two walks and a fielder's choice to set the table for Keila Kamoku. The sophomore second baseman ripped a two-run single right back up the middle, and the offense never looked back.
After reloading the bases with two outs, Paige Smith quickly cleared them, scorching a double over the center fielder's head to plate three more and make it five nothing. But the Rebs weren't done. Jamie Mackay and Tate Whitley, who batted around, walked to load the bases for a third time. Mikayla Allee and Mya Stevenson both increased the lead to seven on a walk and Purdue error.
Ole Miss continued to add to its lead, scoring two in the second and third innings. Jalia Lassiter scored on a wild pitch after hitting her fourth triple of the season, and Savana Sikes crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second. The following inning, Lassiter ripped a double in the gap to push the lead to 11-0, scoring pinch runners Taylor Malvin and Brooke Barnard.
Dealing through the first three innings, Kliethermes ran into a little trouble in the fourth after four free passes got Purdue on the board. She managed to limit the Boilermakers to one, and her offense got one back in the bottom half of the inning.
Grace Sparks entered the game in the fifth inning, but Ole Miss later went back to Kliethermes to retire the final three batters of the game after Purdue tacked on a late unearned run, giving the Rebels a 12-2 victory in five.
GAME TWO: OLE MISS 13, ST. THOMAS 1
Every Rebel in the starting lineup registered a hit in the nightcap as Ole Miss cruised past St. Thomas 13-1 to close out day two of the Rebel Invitational. In the circle, Catelyn Riley notched her first win of the season, surrendering only two hits and striking out five batters.
St. Thomas punched first, taking a short-live 1-0 lead in the top of the first after a muffed throw helped a run score. Whitley got the offense going with a single back to the pitcher. A batter later, Stevenson mashed her eighth homer run of the season to retake the lead. Lassiter continued the rally with a single and a stolen base to move into scoring position and scored on an RBI single from Sikes. They added two more runs to make it 5-0 after Furbush scored on a wild pitch, and Sikes stole home on a heads-up play.
The Rebels batted around again in the second, extending their lead to 12-1. Stevenson, Lassiter, Aynslie Furbush, Smith and Mackay all drove in runs as Ole Miss strung together seven hits in the frame.
In the bottom of the fourth, Mackenzie White stepped to the plate and notched her first collegiate hit, blasting a double in the right-center gap and scoring the very next play as Whitley doubled down the line.
Landyn Bruce took over in the circle for the final two innings, striking out two batters and only allowing one hit to close out the ballgame.
Ole Miss wraps up the weekend Sunday, March 19, with an 11 a.m. CT showdown against St. Thomas.
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kliethermes, Makenna (5-4)
L: Alexa Pinarski (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Kiara Dillon 1
RBI: Alex Echazarreta 1 ; Kiara Dillon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jade Moy 1 ; Khloe Banks 1
HBP: Alex Echazarreta 1
Batting:
2B: Allee, Mikayla 1 ; Lassiter, Jalia 1 ; Smith, Paige 1
3B: Lassiter, Jalia 1
RBI: Segal, Makenna 1 ; Allee, Mikayla 1 ; Stevenson, Mya 1 ; Kamoku, Keila 2 ; Lassiter, Jalia 2 ; Smith, Paige 4
SH: Lassiter, Jalia 1
SF: Smith, Paige 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whitley, Tate 1 ; Allee, Mikayla 1 ; Malvin, Taylor 1 ; Barnard, Brooke 1 ; Kamoku, Keila 1 ; Lassiter, Jalia 1 ; Lord, Jenna 1 ; Sikes, Savana 2 ; Smith, Paige 1 ; DeLeon, Angelina 1 ; Mackay, Jamie 1
SB: Sikes, Savana 1
