The University of Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, April 16
Oxford, Miss.
3 PM
Ole Miss
24-19
7
vs
3
Louisiana Tech
26-13
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2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Louisiana Tech
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
3
9
0
Ole Miss
2
0
2
1
0
2
X
7
11
0
Softball Sweeps Midweek Doubleheader with Louisiana Tech in Thrilling Fashion
4/17/2024 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss softball picked up two big wins over Louisiana Tech, sweeping the midweek doubleheader with the Bulldogs on Tuesday night at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
The twin bill between Ole Miss and Louisiana Tech had a little of everything: home runs, strikeouts, extra innings and, of course, rally caps. The Rebels (25-19, 3-12 SEC) grabbed a convincing 7-3 win in game one and grinded out a thrilling 13-inning walk-off win in game two to secure the sweep.
Offensively, Ole Miss racked up 10-plus hits in both contests and blasted four home runs on the day. Jalia Lassiter led the way with two dingers, while Jaden Pone tallied five hits. Paige Smith drove in five runs on four hits over the two games. The fifth-year senior recorded her 186th career hit in the ninth inning of game two to move into 10th all-time in Ole Miss program history.
GAME ONE | Ole Miss 7, Louisiana Tech 3
Three home runs and strong pitching helped Ole Miss take game one of the midweek double dip. Smith, Lassiter and Lexie Brady all teed off, launching home runs in the victory, while Lopez earned her fourth win of the season in relief, going 3.2 innings and striking out six batters.
Lassiter led off the game with a base hit and used her speed to get into scoring position. She tallied the first run of the day, coming home on a sacrifice fly by Smith. Brady, who walked, came in to add a second run to the lead on an RBI single from Delaney Rummell.
Ole Miss doubled its lead in the third as Smith led off the inning with a solo home run, and Annie Orman drove in another one on an RBI double in the gap to make it 4-0.
Grace Sparks cruised through the first three innings, retiring nine of the first 10 batters she faced. It wasn't until the fourth that the Bulldogs began to give her fits in the circle. Louisiana Tech cut the lead to two runs on three hits and forced the Rebels to turn to Lopez out of the bullpen. She inherited a bases-loaded jam and managed to record two massive strikeouts to minimize the damage.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Lassiter got one run back for Ole Miss with her second home run of the season, marking her third hit of the game. She pushed the lead back to 5-2, giving the Rebels a cushion.
Brady added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with her 12th home run of the year, tied for the third most in a single season in program history.
With a five-run lead, Lopez went back to work in the circle. A walk and two singles drove in one run, and with Louisiana Tech threatening for more, Ole Miss brought in Furbush to record the final out of the game with the tying run on deck. The senior only needed three pitches to secure her fourth save of the season and help the Rebels take game one 7-3.
GAME TWO | Ole Miss 6, Louisiana Tech 5
After a four-hour, 13-inning battle, Aynslie Furbush's RBI single helped Ole Miss walk off Louisiana Tech in the fourth-longest game in program history to sweep the midweek doubleheader. The Rebels showed grit, clawing back twice to tie the game at three and five, never wavering.
Rallying with two outs in the bottom of the 13th inning, Ole Miss took advantage of a fielding error that extended the frame. With two runners on, Furbush made the most of her at-bat, taking the 1-2 pitch right back up the middle to score Pone from second. The senior helped her own cause as she picked up the victory in the circle, retiring 13 of the 16 batters she faced over the final 4.1 innings. It marked the Rebels' third walk-off win in their last four games and helped Ole Miss secure its 25th win of the season.
Pone led the way at the plate, tying her career high with four hits and three runs over the course of her seven at-bats. Her bunt single in the bottom of the ninth inning marked the 200th career hit of her career. Angelina DeLeon, Furbush, Orman and Smith all finished with multiple hits as the offense tallied 14 total. In the circle, Catelyn Riley, Lopez and Furbush combined for 13 strikeouts.
Lassiter set the tone, blasting her first-career leadoff home run to give Ole Miss a 1-0 lead just six pitches into the game. The Rebels continued to threaten, loading the bases, but could only add one run to their lead to make it 2-0.
Louisiana Tech's ace settled in and got some production from her offense in the fourth. An Ole Miss error allowed the Bulldogs to strike for three unearned runs to take a 3-2 lead. Once again, the Rebels turned to Lopez in a pinch to keep the opposition at bay.
Looking to tie the score back up at three, Orman had a home run robbed from her in the fourth inning. Ole Miss continued to battle at the plate and broke through the following inning as Smith delivered an RBI single up the middle to pull the score even at 3-3.
Ole Miss had an opportunity to walk off the contest in the bottom of the seventh with Starr on third with two outs, but Louisiana Tech stood tall.
Heading into the ninth, Lopez had set down 13 of the 14 batters she had faced, but a pair of walks came back around to haunt the lefty as both runs scored to give the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead.
Down to their final out, the Rebels refused to quit. Pone hustled out an infield single, and Brady wore a pitch to put the tying run aboard. Head coach Jamie Trachsel called in the speedy Taylor Malvin to pinch run and first base, and the decision paid off. Smith poked a bloop single to right field, where the defender attempted to lay out for the final out. Instead, she was unable to make the catch and threw the ball into second while Malvin raced home with heads-up baserunning to give Ole Miss new life.
Furbush dealt for the final 4.1 innings of play, waiting for the offense to break through. She struck out seven batters, a season-high, before helping walk things off in the bottom of the 13th inning.
The Rebels resume SEC play this weekend with a road trip to College Station, Texas, to face off with No. 7 Texas A&M in a three-game series April 19-21.
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.
The twin bill between Ole Miss and Louisiana Tech had a little of everything: home runs, strikeouts, extra innings and, of course, rally caps. The Rebels (25-19, 3-12 SEC) grabbed a convincing 7-3 win in game one and grinded out a thrilling 13-inning walk-off win in game two to secure the sweep.
Offensively, Ole Miss racked up 10-plus hits in both contests and blasted four home runs on the day. Jalia Lassiter led the way with two dingers, while Jaden Pone tallied five hits. Paige Smith drove in five runs on four hits over the two games. The fifth-year senior recorded her 186th career hit in the ninth inning of game two to move into 10th all-time in Ole Miss program history.
GAME ONE | Ole Miss 7, Louisiana Tech 3
Three home runs and strong pitching helped Ole Miss take game one of the midweek double dip. Smith, Lassiter and Lexie Brady all teed off, launching home runs in the victory, while Lopez earned her fourth win of the season in relief, going 3.2 innings and striking out six batters.
Lassiter led off the game with a base hit and used her speed to get into scoring position. She tallied the first run of the day, coming home on a sacrifice fly by Smith. Brady, who walked, came in to add a second run to the lead on an RBI single from Delaney Rummell.
Ole Miss doubled its lead in the third as Smith led off the inning with a solo home run, and Annie Orman drove in another one on an RBI double in the gap to make it 4-0.
Grace Sparks cruised through the first three innings, retiring nine of the first 10 batters she faced. It wasn't until the fourth that the Bulldogs began to give her fits in the circle. Louisiana Tech cut the lead to two runs on three hits and forced the Rebels to turn to Lopez out of the bullpen. She inherited a bases-loaded jam and managed to record two massive strikeouts to minimize the damage.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Lassiter got one run back for Ole Miss with her second home run of the season, marking her third hit of the game. She pushed the lead back to 5-2, giving the Rebels a cushion.
Brady added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with her 12th home run of the year, tied for the third most in a single season in program history.
With a five-run lead, Lopez went back to work in the circle. A walk and two singles drove in one run, and with Louisiana Tech threatening for more, Ole Miss brought in Furbush to record the final out of the game with the tying run on deck. The senior only needed three pitches to secure her fourth save of the season and help the Rebels take game one 7-3.
GAME TWO | Ole Miss 6, Louisiana Tech 5
After a four-hour, 13-inning battle, Aynslie Furbush's RBI single helped Ole Miss walk off Louisiana Tech in the fourth-longest game in program history to sweep the midweek doubleheader. The Rebels showed grit, clawing back twice to tie the game at three and five, never wavering.
Rallying with two outs in the bottom of the 13th inning, Ole Miss took advantage of a fielding error that extended the frame. With two runners on, Furbush made the most of her at-bat, taking the 1-2 pitch right back up the middle to score Pone from second. The senior helped her own cause as she picked up the victory in the circle, retiring 13 of the 16 batters she faced over the final 4.1 innings. It marked the Rebels' third walk-off win in their last four games and helped Ole Miss secure its 25th win of the season.
Pone led the way at the plate, tying her career high with four hits and three runs over the course of her seven at-bats. Her bunt single in the bottom of the ninth inning marked the 200th career hit of her career. Angelina DeLeon, Furbush, Orman and Smith all finished with multiple hits as the offense tallied 14 total. In the circle, Catelyn Riley, Lopez and Furbush combined for 13 strikeouts.
Lassiter set the tone, blasting her first-career leadoff home run to give Ole Miss a 1-0 lead just six pitches into the game. The Rebels continued to threaten, loading the bases, but could only add one run to their lead to make it 2-0.
Louisiana Tech's ace settled in and got some production from her offense in the fourth. An Ole Miss error allowed the Bulldogs to strike for three unearned runs to take a 3-2 lead. Once again, the Rebels turned to Lopez in a pinch to keep the opposition at bay.
Looking to tie the score back up at three, Orman had a home run robbed from her in the fourth inning. Ole Miss continued to battle at the plate and broke through the following inning as Smith delivered an RBI single up the middle to pull the score even at 3-3.
Ole Miss had an opportunity to walk off the contest in the bottom of the seventh with Starr on third with two outs, but Louisiana Tech stood tall.
Heading into the ninth, Lopez had set down 13 of the 14 batters she had faced, but a pair of walks came back around to haunt the lefty as both runs scored to give the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead.
Down to their final out, the Rebels refused to quit. Pone hustled out an infield single, and Brady wore a pitch to put the tying run aboard. Head coach Jamie Trachsel called in the speedy Taylor Malvin to pinch run and first base, and the decision paid off. Smith poked a bloop single to right field, where the defender attempted to lay out for the final out. Instead, she was unable to make the catch and threw the ball into second while Malvin raced home with heads-up baserunning to give Ole Miss new life.
Furbush dealt for the final 4.1 innings of play, waiting for the offense to break through. She struck out seven batters, a season-high, before helping walk things off in the bottom of the 13th inning.
The Rebels resume SEC play this weekend with a road trip to College Station, Texas, to face off with No. 7 Texas A&M in a three-game series April 19-21.
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: Lopez, Brianna (4-3)
L: BUSTER, Mattison (1-3)
S: Furbush, Aynslie (4)
Batting:
2B: NEEL, Kylie 1
RBI: NEEL, Kylie 1 ; HAMMOUDE, Nicole 1 ; SEANEY, Aubree 1
Base Running:
RUNS: RALEY, Claire 1 ; GILIO, Alexis 2
Batting:
2B: Furbush, Aynslie 1 ; Orman, Annie 1
HR: Lassiter, Jalia 1 ; Brady, Lexie 1 ; Smith, Paige 1
RBI: Lassiter, Jalia 1 ; Brady, Lexie 2 ; Smith, Paige 2 ; Rummell, Delaney 1 ; Orman, Annie 1
SF: Smith, Paige 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lassiter, Jalia 2 ; Pone, Jaden 1 ; Brady, Lexie 2 ; Smith, Paige 1 ; Womack, Ma'Nia 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ SoftballUT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballUT
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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