The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
4-1
Hawaii
1-4
Softball Closes Out Paradise Classic With 5-1 Win Over Hawaii
2/11/2024 | Softball
The Rebels (4-1, 0-0 SEC) recorded a season-high 13 hits in the contest, led by Jalia Lassiter, Jaden Pone and Jamie Mackay, who each finished with three. Defensively, Ryan Starr stole the show, stealing hits left and right from the Hawaii (1-4, 0-0 Big West) batters.
Hawaii threatened early, turning the pressure up on Makenna Kliethermes by loading the bases with two outs in the first. The senior remained composed in the circle and recorded a clutch swinging strikeout to escape the jam unscathed.
After stranding runners in scoring position in the first two innings, everything came together for the Ole Miss offense in the third. Starr led things off with a base hit and scored the very next batter as Lassiter ripped her first triple of the season. Pone followed with an RBI single and stole second before adding a run on a Delaney Rummell base hit to cap off a three-run third.
Brianna Lopez took over in the circle with a runner on and two outs against her former team. The transfer lefty only needed two pitches to send the Rebels to the fifth.
The Rainbow Wahine Warriors got on the board in the fifth, cutting the deficit to two, but Grace Sparks entered the game in the sixth inning and helped hold the advantage.
Ole Miss added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Lassiter and Pone each notched their third hits of the game to lead off the inning. Pone scored on an RBI single from Lexie Brady, and Mackay's third hit of the afternoon drove in Paige Smith.
Back out for the bottom half of the frame, Sparks fended off a late rally. Hawaii loaded the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs, but Angelina DeLeon handled the ground ball for the final out.
The Rebels are back in action on Friday, February 16, for the Kennesaw State Tournament, where they will play five games against Pitt, ETSU and Kennesaw State.
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 (2-0)
L: Kostrencich, (1-1)
Batting:
3B: Lassiter, Jalia 1
RBI: Lassiter, Jalia 1 ; Pone, Jaden 1 ; Brady, Lexie 1 ; Rummell, Delaney 1 ; Mackay, Jamie 1
SH: Pone, Jaden 1 ; Orman, Annie 1 ; Starr, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lassiter, Jalia 1 ; Pone, Jaden 2 ; Smith, Paige 1 ; Starr, Ryan 1
SB: Pone, Jaden 1
HBP: DeLeon, Angelina 1
Batting:
2B: Martinez, I. 1
RBI: Johnson, H. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nakamura, M. 1
