The Ole Miss Softball team played host in their very own Ole Miss Classic last weekend, March 1-3. Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Kent State University all participated in the three-day stretch that saw the Lady Rebels go 3-2.
Ole Miss took game one of the weekend against Southeastern 2-0 but dropped the second game of the doubleheader to UAB 6-4. On Saturday afternoon, the Lady Rebels crushed Kent State in five innings 10-0. Southeastern would later get their revenge on Ole Miss in extra innings with a 9-4 victory later that day. They closed the weekend with a 7-0 win over UAB on Sunday.
Game one: Southeastern Louisiana (won 2-0)
Both teams combined for six hits in this game. Ole Miss utility player Jaden Pone reached first base on a walk and stole home in the first inning, setting the tone for a successful start to the weekend slate. Infielder Grace Thompson added an insurance run in the fifth inning on a wild pitch to raise the score to 2-0.
Right-handed pitcher Makenna Kliethermes dominated the opposition. She went five innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six batters. On the other side, Lions pitcher Cera Blanchard kept her team in the game the entire time: She pitched 4.1 innings and gave up one earned run.
Despite drawing eight walks, the Rebel offense only mustered two runs.
Game two: UAB (lost 6-4)
Trailblazer outfielder Bella Wiggins, the first batter of the game, hit a solo home run for UAB. With some timely hitting and an error from Rebel infielder Delany Rummel, they tacked on four more runs in the next inning.
The Rebels scratched across four runs but could not find the equalizer. A single from Rummell got them on the board, and catcher Lexi Brady added one sacrifice fly that scored Pone.
The Blazers’ defense helped Ole Miss inch closer in the fourth inning. Infielder Ryan Starr struck out swinging but reached on a throwing error, which scored outfielder Taylor Malvin for Ole Miss.
Ole Miss got their fifth run off of a double from catcher Jamie Mackay. UAB got insurance in the six with a single, and the Rebels had no answer.
Pitcher Catelyn Riley came in relief of pitcher Aynslie Furbush. Riley went 5.1 innings and kept the Rebels in the game after the Blazers flamed Furbush for five runs in an inning and two-thirds.
Leigha Kirby pitched a complete game for UAB.
Game three: Kent State (won 10-0)
With two runs in the first inning and eight in the second inning, the Lady Rebels run-ruled the Flashes very quickly. Utility player Jalia Lassiter got the scoring started on a wild pitch from the Flashes, and Brady singled to score Pone to double the lead for Ole Miss.
Singles from Rummell and Mackay tripled the Rebels’ lead. Doubles from Furbush and infielder Angelina DeLeon extended their lead.
Kliethermes earned the win on the mound in this one, and she is now 7-1 on the season.
Game four: Southeastern Louisiana (lost 9-4)
If it were not for the five-run eighth inning from Southeastern, this would have been a really good game for the Rebels.
Ole Miss got on the board in the first inning, but the Lions tied it in the second inning and then took the lead in the third inning.
A two-run homer from infielder Paige Smith put the Rebels back on top. Then, Furbush put Ole Miss up by two with a single, but the lead would not last long. In the sixth inning, the Lions tied it with a two-run single.
Southeastern tacked on five runs in the top of the eighth inning, sealing their victory.
Game five: UAB (won 7-0)
The Rebels dominated UAB 7-0 to end the weekend, which was much needed after dropping to Southeastern.
Ole Miss’ Brady smashed a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and utility player Ma’Nia Womack singled to drive in two runs. Pone and Smith singled and doubled to extend the lead in the sixth inning.
Rebel pitcher Grace Sparks remained undefeated so far this season, as she pitched 6.2 innings, allowed three hits, walked three batters and had one strikeout in this dominant performance.
Wrap up
The Rebels improved their record to 14-5. They will visit the University of Memphis for a midweek game on Tuesday, March 5, and then welcome Mississippi State University for their first SEC matchup of the season in a weekend series starting on Friday, March 10.
