Mississippi senior Allison Brown bats during the softball game between Mississippi and Georgia, Friday, April 10, 2015. (DM Photo | Kayla Beatty)
The Ole Miss softball team lost two of three games in a weekend series against the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. The Rebel’s only victory came in game two.
GAME 1: South Carolina 10, Ole Miss 2 (5)
The South Carolina offense scored at least once in every inning, propelling the Gamecocks to a 10-2 victory Saturday night. The game began Friday, but was postponed in the second inning due to rain and was resumed Saturday after the completion of game two.
“Great teams win on a consistent basis. That’s the difference between a good team and a great team,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith.
“When we start winning on a consistent basis and show up ready to play a complete game, we’ll be a great team. We’re only a good team right now.”
Senior third baseman Allison Brown hit a two-run homer to centerfield in the bottom of the fourth to plate the only two runs of the game for the Rebels.
South Carolina scored once in the first inning, twice in the second, four times in the third, once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to get the run-rule-shortened victory.
GAME 2: Ole Miss 5, South Carolina 2
A five-run fifth inning carried the Rebels to victory in game two of the series Saturday afternoon.
“We’ve talked about it,” said Smith. “If we put everything together, we’re a good ball club, and that’s exactly what we did today. We stayed the course.”
Senior rightfielder Bri Payne hit a single to lead off the inning, and sophomore second baseman Alyssa Invergo doubled to put runners at second and third. Sophomore catcher Courtney Syrett laid down a squeeze bunt, and South Carolina senior pitcher Julie Sarratt tried to get freshman pinch runner Paige McKinney at home but her throw went over the catcher’s head, allowing both McKinney and Invergo to score.
With two outs in the inning, junior Natalie Martinez drew a walk. The next batter, sophomore centerfielder Miranda Strother, hit a three-run homer to centerfield to give the Rebels the 5-2 lead.
Junior pitcher Madi Osias was excellent in the circle for the Rebels. She allowed only two runs on four hits and struck out three.
GAME 3: South Carolina 10, Ole Miss 7
The Rebels rallied multiple times, but ultimately came up short on senior day as the Gamecocks powered their way to a 10-7 victory Sunday.
South Carolina senior first baseman Olivia Lawrence hit two long home runs on the day. Her first, a two-run homer, gave the Gamecocks a 6-4 lead in the fifth inning. Her second, a three-run homer one inning later, extended the South Carolina lead to 10-4. Gamecock sophomore third baseman Taylor Williams added a solo shot in the fifth.
Ole Miss tied the game at four in the fourth inning, courtesy of a two run single from Invergo, who had three hits and four RBIs on the day for the Rebels. Brown and Payne both singled up the middle to start the inning, and advanced to second and third on a passed ball. Invergo drove them in with a single to left.
The Rebels rallied again in the sixth inning. Facing a 10-4 deficit, Syrett drove in senior pinch runner Jamie Morgan to cut the lead to 10-5, then freshman left-fielder Elantra Cox singled home two more to cut the lead to 10-7, but Gamecock sophomore pitcher Nickie Blue induced a fielder’s choice and a double play to get out of the inning.
The Rebels are back in action Wednesday, when they hit the road to take on Mississippi Valley State.
