Ole Miss Softball traveled to Knoxville, Tenn., to play the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers. The Rebels took two of three games to win the series and earn their first SEC wins of the season.
Game one
Ole Miss took game one on Friday thanks to an early solo home run from senior catcher Kennedy Bunker.
In the Rebels’ first at bat, Bunker hit her lead off home run to put the Rebels up 1-0. Second baseman Mackenzie Pickens, first baseman Persy Llamas and designated player Taylor Roman ended the inning with three straight strikeouts.
In the bottom of the first, senior pitcher Emilee Boyer took the circle for Ole Miss, and the Rebels earned three quick outs from a ground out and a double play.
Both pitchers continued to hastily record outs and the score stayed 1-0 through the second inning and into the top of third.
Tennessee was able to tie the game when Boyer struggled in the bottom of the third inning.
She started the inning off with a walk, and then Tennessee grounded out to move the runner around the bases. The Rebel defense was able to get a runner out at home, but allowed another Lady Vol runner to reach base safely.
Then, three straight walks from Boyer advanced a runner home and tied the game 1-1. With the bases loaded, Boyer was able to save the Rebels by striking out a Tennessee pinch hitter.
The low-scoring pitchers’ duel continued through the fourth and fifth innings. Both pitchers threw a complete game and recorded more quick outs, and Tennessee ace Sage Mardjetko ended the night with 12 strikeouts against the Rebels in her first loss of the season.
The Rebel defense was also on point. Between Pickens and shortstop Cassie Reasner, any ball that stayed in the infield was almost guaranteed to be an out with the Rebels generating 13 groundouts.
The Rebels took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Llamas hit a single and pinch runner Izzy Rettinger advanced to third thanks to Tennessee’s defensive errors. Rettigner then came home on a wild pitch and gave Ole Miss a 2-1 lead with six outs left for Tennessee.
The rest of the sixth and seventh innings went by quickly, with more groundouts and double plays. Boyer and the defense solidified the Rebel’s first win in Knoxville since 2008.
Game two
Ole Miss secured their first SEC series win of the season on Saturday with their second 2-1 win over Tennessee.
The Rebels started slow with three straight outs in the first, and they nearly ran into trouble when starting pitcher Kyra Aycock gave up a walk and two singles in the bottom of the first. However, Aycock was able to stay composed and produce a double play and a strikeout to end the first inning.
In the top of the third, the Rebels finally got on the board. Outfielder Laylonna Applin had a lead off single, third baseman Ryan Starr walked and then centerfielder Taylor Malvin reached first on a Tennessee mishap to load the bases for the Rebels with no outs.
Bunker hit a catchable ball to left field that Tennessee dropped. Buker reached first and Applin came home to give the Rebs a 1-0 lead.
Pickens drove in another run off of a fielder’s choice to shortstop. Heavy hitters Llamas and Madi George each grounded out to the pitcher and the inning ended with the bases loaded.
Aycock stayed in control and kept the Lady Vols scoreless until the bottom of the fifth.
In the fifth, the Rebel defense lost a pop up in the sun, allowing Tennessee to get a lead-off double. Aycock then gave up a walk, and a sacrifice bunt allowed the runners to both move into scoring position.
A Tennessee runner tried to come home on a passed ball, but she was beat out at the plate by Bunker; however, the runner on second advanced to third. Then Lady Vol Sophia Knight hit a double and the runner on third scored to cut the Rebel lead and make the game 2-1.
Aycock ended the inning and allowed no more runs for the rest of the game. Despite the Volunteer’s reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens in the circle Ole Miss got the 2-1 win to lock up their first ever series win away at Knoxville.
Game three
Ole Miss was unable to sweep Tennessee, and lost game three in a nail-biter. Tennessee walked off the Rebels in the bottom of the seventh inning on Sunday afternoon.
Bunker continued her great weekend with a leadoff walk in game three, but Rebel groundouts and strikeouts left her stranded.
The bottom half of the first started with Boyer in the circle. She notched two quick outs before she allowed a single and a walk. Boyer bounced back and caught the final out to leave the inning unscathed.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third. Boyer left the game after giving up a walk and a double. Lilly Whitten entered the game to take over as pitcher.
Whitten quickly got another out, but then gave up a walk to load the bases. The Lady Vols hit a base clearing double down the left field line to make it 3-0, and then struck out to end the inning.
The fourth and fifth innings went by quickly, and Aycock subbed in to pitch in place of Whitten.
In the top of the sixth, the Rebels tied the game. Pickens worked a lead-off walk and Llamas singled to set up George who hit a game-tying home run to center field. However, the Tennessee starter recovered and got three quick outs to keep the game tied at 3-3.
In the top of the seventh, Tennessee struck out the side and the game stayed tied. In the bottom half, Tennessee started with a lead-off double and a walk. The Rebels recorded one out before they gave up another walk to load the bases.
With a hard hit ball to third, Starr was able to get an out at the plate, but the bases remained loaded.
However, game three ended in heartbreak for Ole Miss. Aycock gave up her fourth walk of the game, allowing the Lady Vols to go up 4-3 and win the game.
