The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
28-25, 7-16
Alabama
38-16, 14-9
Softball Drops Heartbreaker to No. 14 Alabama
5/6/2023 | Softball
Rebels Honor Eight on Senior Day
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss softball fell to No. 14 Alabama 3-1 in a heartbreaker on senior day Saturday afternoon at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
The Rebels honored eight seniors in Mikayla Allee, Nyomi Jones, Makenna Kliethermes, Savana Sikes, Paige Smith, Mya Stevenson, Brooke Vestal and Tate Whitley in front of a packed crowd.
A late three-run home run was the difference as the Tide took the lead with one out to spare, preventing the Rebels from evening the series. Catelyn Riley was electric in the circle despite the loss. She went toe-to-toe with Alabama's Montana Fouts, matching one of the nation's top arms in a pitcher's duel.
Riley was sharp early on, stranding runners in each of the first three innings, including a leadoff double in the second.
Ole Miss used small ball to get under the Tide's skin. Jalia Lassiter dropped down a bunt for the Rebels' first hit of the game, and Mikayla Allee reached on a fielding error in the bottom half of the second inning, but Alabama held its ground. They threatened again in the third with a pair of runners reaching, but once again, couldn't bring a run across.
Looking to break the scoreless tie, Lassiter used her speed to get Ole Miss on the board. The freshman led off the inning with a base hit up the middle and moved into scoring position on a ground out. With one out, she swiped third base to move 60 feet closer to home. Lassiter flexed her speed on the Tide once more, scoring on an RBI groundout back to the pitcher to give Ole Miss a 1-0 lead.
With a one-run lead, Riley continued to deal, working a clean fifth and retiring the side in order in the sixth. She remained in the circle for the seventh as Ole Miss looked to be the first team all season to shut out the Tide.
Alabama led off the inning with a single before pinch-hitting for its next three batters at the bottom of the order. Riley and the Rebel defense managed to get two outs, but the Tide was still threatening with a pair of runners on base and the top of the order coming up to bat.
Down to its final out, Alabama hit a three-run home run to take the lead. Ole Miss went to the bottom half of the seventh trailing by two but was unable to climb back into the game, falling 3-1.
The Rebels look to respond on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT as they play their final game in the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
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: Montana Fouts (22-8)
L: Riley, Catelyn (6-5)
Batting:
2B: Larissa Preuitt 1
HR: Jenna Johnson 1
RBI: Jenna Johnson 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenna Johnson 1 ; Jordan Stephens 1 ; Kali Heivilin 1
CS: Kristen White 1
Batting:
RBI: Brady, Lexie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lassiter, Jalia 1
SB: Lassiter, Jalia 1
