Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Productions
Behind a stellar performance from Kaitlin Lee in the circle, and a powerful offense with 14 hits, Ole Miss softball completed the weekend sweep in the Sunshine State, run-ruling No. 23 USF, 12-1, Sunday at the Hatter Invitational.
Lee, in her sixth start of the season, gave up just one run off three hits in five innings of work, improving to 4-2 on the year. Offensively, the Rebels (12-2) finished with double digit hits for the sixth time this year, pounding out 14 against three Bulls’ (8-5) pitchers.
At the plate, freshman Dylinn Stancil went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI, while fellow freshman Alyssa Gonzalez drove in a career high four runs off a 3-run blast in the fourth inning. Sophomore Elantra Cox went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot and was effective on the base paths with two steals. Sophomore Brittany Finney also lifted her third home run of 2017 finishing 2-for-2 with two RBI, while senior Miranda Strother drove in three off her second home run of the season.
In a rematch after Ole Miss won the first, 8-0, on Friday, the two sides came out swinging in their first chance to start the scoring. Sophomore Kylan Becker drilled a 1-out double in the gap to right-center field, and Gonzalez drove her in off a hard single, also in the gap, putting the Rebels on top 1-0.
The Bulls responded in their first opportunity at the plate, capitalizing on a leadoff single, passed ball, fly to left, and RBI single from Lauren Evans that tied it back up at 1-1. Lee walked another USF hitter, but worked a fly out to center escaping the inning stranding two.
The Rebels wasted no time getting the run back as Finney roped a solo shot to left, before the bases were eventually loaded. After Horton and Stancil both singled, and Becker walked, sophomore Ashton Lampton drove one deep to center, but it was snagged at the wall.
From there, Lee worked a clean second and third inning before the Rebels broke through in the fourth and fifth to seal the victory.
Stancil got the wheels in motion in the fourth off a leadoff double down the line in left. Senior Dakota Matiko pinch ran for her and moved to third on a bunt single from Cox. After Cox stole second, USF turned to its first relief pitcher, and Matiko scored on a passed ball making the score 3-1. Lampton then walked, stole second, and everyone scored after Gonzalez jacked a 3-run blast to left, increasing the advantage to 6-1. The Rebels kept it going as Strother walked, then stole second and went to third on a throwing error, before Finney brought her home on a double into left. Paige McKinney then pinch ran for her, senior Courtney Syrett was hit by a pitch, and Stancil finished the inning with her second hit, driving the pair in to make it 9-1.
Ole Miss went on to add three insurance runs in the fifth when Strother blasted a 3-run shot to straightaway center, the Rebels’ fifth home run of the weekend.
Courtesy of Ole Miss
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