No. 25 Softball Sweeps Rain Delayed Day Two at Green & Gold Classic

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Behind standout pitching, the No. 25 Ole Miss softball program delivered back-to-back shutouts of Southern Illinois and Missouri State on day two of the Green & Gold Classic.

The Rebels (10-4, 0-0 SEC) opened with a 1-0 extra-inning victory over the Salukis (8-6, 0-0 MVC) before securing a 2-0 win over the Bears (7-5, 0-0 CUSA) to end the day.

GAME ONE | No. 25 Ole Miss 1, Southern Illinois 0 (F/9)
Saturday’s opener got started four hours late due to weather and field conditions, but when the teams took the field, both proved to be sharp in the circle. Lilly Whitten earned the start for the Rebels delivering three hitless frames to open the day.

While the Salukis got two runners on base in the fourth inning, Whitten would give way to Boyer who shined out of the bullpen. Boyer faced a bases loaded situation with no outs and generated a foul out and double play in quick succession to keep the game level.

Both offenses struggled to find rhythm, with a Cassie Reasner single in the fourth being the lone exception. Boyer surged after getting out of the jam in the fourth inning, striking out three batters around a Saluki single in the fifth.

Boyer’s success continued as she would finish the day with six innings of one-hit softball out of the bullpen. However, both sides remained deadlocked at 0-0 as the game would go into extra innings.

Neither side could generate a baserunner until Mackenzie Pickens stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. Pickens would end the game with one swing, blasting a home run to left field to walk off with a 1-0 win.

GAME TWO | No. 25 Ole Miss 2, Missouri State 0
While game one took nine innings for a Rebel run, game two opened quickly for the Rebels. Taylor Malvin led off the game with a hit and Persy Llamas drew a hit by pitch, before both executed a double steal. Madi George was next up and ripped a single up the middle to take an early 1-0 lead.

Once again, the Rebels were buoyed by terrific pitching, thanks to Kyra Aycock. Aycock worked around a walk in the first and a double in the second to preserve the Rebel lead. The Rebels nearly provided her some insurance in the second inning as Malvin delivered a single with two runners on, but the potential scoring run was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

That would not phase Aycock, who breezed through the third inning. In the fourth inning, it was her defense that played a role as two singles put pressure on her. However, a key throw from Laylonna Applin in right field caught the lead runner at third base for a critical out that allowed Aycock to finish the inning on the next batter.

The Rebels loaded the bases in the fifth inning thanks to a Malvin walk, Llamas single and George walk. However, the Bears were able to squeak out of the jam unscathed.

Ultimately, the Rebels finally got insurance in the sixth inning. A Grace Thompson walk helped lead to the Rebels getting a runner in scoring position. A Taylor Roman grounder eluded the Bears shortstop, allowing the speedy Izzy Rettiger to score from second base and increase the lead to 2-0.

Meanwhile, Aycock would polish off a third consecutive shutout for the Rebels in the seventh inning. Aycock threw her first complete game shutout as a Rebel, allowing just three hits in the game.

The Rebels will wrap up the Green & Gold Classic on Sunday, facing Missouri State once again at 11:30 a.m. CT, before ending with a rematch against Mercer at 4:30 p.m. CT.

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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.

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Mackenzie Pickens

Cassie Reasner

Rachel Connors

Taylor Malvin

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