Rebel softball run-rules Western Kentucky, 10-2, in Ole Miss Classic
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss softball run-ruled Western Kentucky, 10-2, in the Saturday-evening portion of the Ole Miss Classic in Oxford. The win was the second on the day for the Rebels as they also run-ruled Saint Louis, 8-0, earlier in the day.
The meeting between Ole Miss and WKU was the second of the weekend as the Rebels beat the Hilltoppers Friday night, 2-0.
Abbey Latham got the Rebels on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo home run deep over the left field fence, giving Ole Miss the 1-0 lead.
Absolutely 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙.@abb3y_latham | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Rz9oaYFMEr
— Ole Miss Softball (@OleMissSoftball) March 6, 2022
Paige Smith followed with a single to center field. With two out and one on, Nyomi Jones launched a ball over the Western Kentucky center fielder’s head, driving in another run on her first career triple.
FIRE US UP @NYOMI_J 😤 pic.twitter.com/D9UraWWIwF
— Ole Miss Softball (@OleMissSoftball) March 6, 2022
Tate Whitely then drove in Jones with a single through the left side, increasing the Rebel lead to 3-0.
The bottom of the third is when Ole Miss busted the game open.
Sydney Gutierrez led off the inning as she reached base on a HBP. Abbey Latham followed up by hitting a single that put runners on first and second.
Paige Smith then hit a double that scored a run and advanced Latham to third. Latham later came around to score on a WKU wild pitch that also advanced Paige Smith to third.
Angelina DeLeon extended the Rebels’ lead with a double to left center that scored Smith, making it a 6-0 Ole Miss advantage. Jones would advance a runner to third on a single, setting up Bre Roper who added another run with an infield single that upped the Rebels’ lead to to 7-0.
Western Kentucky scored two in the top of the fourth after three singles, one which scored a run, and a fielder’s choice that scored another, making it 7-2, Ole Miss.
The Rebels would score three more in the bottom of the sixth. Tate Whitley led off the inning with a single up the middle, and then Roper drove Whitley in on a double to left field. That gave the Red and Blue an 8-2 lead.
.@b_rope__ makes it an 8⃣-2⃣ ball game! pic.twitter.com/FNRGwqThhC
— Ole Miss Softball (@OleMissSoftball) March 6, 2022
Latham then reached via a walk, and Smith ended the game on a double that scored Latham and Roper to make it 10-2.
On the night, the Rebels notched 12 hits, six of which were extra-base hits. Brooke Vestal got the win in the circle, going four innings and allowing seven hits, two runs (none earned) one walk and one strikeout.
Next Up:
Ole Miss plays Samford Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
(Feature image credit: Petre Thomas, Ole Miss)
Nick Filipich
Nick Filipich was born and raised in Biloxi, MS. He is an Ole Miss alum with a degree in Sports and Recreation Administration. A sports junkie with a great passion for all things Ole Miss, Nick played baseball and football in high school — which is where he discovered his love for sports. He is an avid Braves and Saints fan, and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, friends and his black lab, Dixie.
