Ole Miss Softball Tops Mississippi State, Wins Rivalry Series

STARKVILLE, Miss. (Ole Miss Athletics) – Ole Miss rallied for a total team effort cruising past rival Mississippi State, 9-5, Monday night at Nusz Park in front of a national TV audience in the SEC’s Game of the Week.

After Mississippi State (21-15, 2-7 SEC) took an early 2-0 advantage, the Rebels (28-10, 4-5 SEC) posted runs in four different frames and never looked back winning the series over the Bulldogs for the second-straight year. The series victory also marked just the second time in school history and first time since 2006-07 the Rebels won back-to-back series over their rival.

While the Rebel offense tied its season high with 15 hits on the night, senior Madi Osias carried the load for Ole Miss totaling over 300 pitches on the weekend to move to 15-3 on the year. She entered in relief of starter Elisha Jahnke, and totaled 6.1 innings with three earned runs allowed off five hits and seven strikeouts. It was her second win of the weekend as she gave up just four runs to the Bulldogs in the three contests.

On the offensive side, the top of the Rebel order in Elantra Cox and Hailey Lunderman paced the way for a potent offense as the duo, along with Alex Schneider, all set new career highs in hits. Cox went 4-for-5 from the leadoff spot with two RBI and three runs scored, while Lunderman was 4-for-5 with two RBI and one run. Schneider finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs off her two-run home run.

Freshman Ashton Lampton also found her groove again at the plate finishing 2-for-4 with one RBI, and just missed a three-hit night after a hard line drive back to the MSU pitcher was snared. Natalie Martinez also finished the contest with two RBI off one hit.

After the Bulldogs tacked on two runs early in the first, Ole Miss started pouring it on a half inning later. Schneider got it going with her first hit of the night, before coming home to score on Lampton’s RBI single. Cox then kept the RBI train going on a single of her own, before Lunderman’s hit made it a 3-2 game.

The Bulldogs threatened in the second after a one-out triple down the line in left, but after Courtney Syrett thwarted a bunt attempt at home, Osias worked out of the jam with a strikeout to keep it 3-2.

The Rebels wasted no time in their next chance at the plate thanks to Schneider’s two-run blast that made it 5-2. Cox again led off the fourth, and after Lunderman reached on a single to center, Miranda Strother grounded to second but was safe on a fielders choice. Martinez then delivered with her two RBI on a single to left giving the Rebels a 7-2 advantage.

Mississippi State cut the lead back to three runs in the fifth when Seitz got a two-run home run to left, but the Rebels again answered in the seventh thanks to RBI doubles from Cox and Lunderman.

Ole Miss was efficient under pressure, plating seven of the nine runs with two outs. The Rebels also struck out just four times on the night.

On Deck
Ole Miss returns home to the Ole Miss Softball Complex next weekend for a three-game set against the two-time defending national champion, No. 1 Florida.