The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
22-17, 2-8
Kentucky
23-9-1, 6-4
Softball’s Rally Falls Short Against No. 15 Kentucky
4/7/2023 | Softball
Rebels Look to Even the Series Saturday
OXFORD, Miss. – Down to its final three outs, Ole Miss softball's seventh-inning rally fell just short as the tying run was thrown out at the plate, allowing No. 15 Kentucky to take the series opener 4-3 Friday night at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
Paige Smith swung the bat well, going 2-for-3 with an RBI single and a solo home run. Catelyn Riley allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings in the circle.
After two scoreless innings from both teams, Kentucky struck first in the third. The Wildcats singled with one out, bringing their All-American shortstop to the plate. She launched a two-run home run to center field. Kentucky added a third run in the following inning, scoring on a fielder's choice to go up 3-0.
Ole Miss was retired in order the first time through the order but made adjustments. Savana Sikes doubled in the bottom half of the fourth and scored on a two-out single that snuck under the second baseman's glove.
Kentucky got the run back in the fifth, restoring its three-run lead on a solo home run. Riley's day ended after five innings as Ole Miss turned to Makenna Kliethermes to start the sixth. She quickly recorded three ground outs in the sixth and worked around back-to-back walks in the seventh to strand two runners in scoring position.
Trailing by three runs, the Rebels strung together four hits in a late rally. Smith led off the inning with a solo home run to center field, cutting the deficit in half. One out later, Aynslie Furbush doubled and forced Kentucky to make a pitching change. The Rebels called in Tenly Grisham to pinch run at second and Brooke Barnard to hit at the plate. Barnard delivered with a clutch RBI single up the middle to make it a one-run game and advanced to second on the throw home.
The Wildcats made another pitching change in the circle, bringing their starter back into the game, but that didn't phase Keila Kamoku. The sophomore sent a base hit right back up the middle. Barnard was waived home but was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning. With Kamoku on second, the Rebels pinch-hit Lexie Brady, who nearly lined a base hit over the shortstop, but a leaping catch prevented the Ole Miss from tying the game at four.
The Rebels look to even the series with Kentucky Saturday night.
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: Sullivan, K (2-0)
L: Riley, Catelyn (3-2)
Batting:
2B: Sullivan, K 1
HR: Coffel, E 1 ; Sullivan, K 1
RBI: Coffel, E 2 ; Sullivan, K 1 ; Tobias, M 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nesby, V 1 ; Coffel, E 1 ; Sullivan, K 1 ; Thulen, E 1
SB: Tobias, M 1
HBP: Coffel, E 1
Batting:
2B: Sikes, Savana 1 ; Furbush, Aynslie 1
HR: Smith, Paige 1
RBI: Smith, Paige 2 ; Barnard, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sikes, Savana 1 ; Smith, Paige 1 ; Grisham, Tenly 1
CS: Whitley, Tate 1
