Ole Miss Softball Rallies Back to Defeat Miami (OH), 10-8

CLEMSON, S.C. – (Release) Refusing to quit, Ole Miss softball battled back to erase a six-run deficit to top Miami (OH) 10-8 on Day Two of the Clemson Classic Saturday morning at McWhorter Stadium.

The Rebels (11-2, 0-0 SEC) bounced back into the win column as the bats came alive, racking up a season-high 17 hits, the most since February 22, 2020 at UAB (18). Lexie Brady, Jalia Lassiter, Delaney Rummell and Paige Smith all had huge days at the plate, finishing with three hits apiece. Brady and Smith hit back-to-back home runs as part of a six-run fifth inning, and Rummell launched her first of the season in what proved to be the game-winning runs. Makenna Kliethermes picked up the win for Ole Miss, coming on in relief. The senior tossed 4.2 innings to earn her fifth victory of the season.

A leadoff home run gave the Redhawks a quick 1-0 lead, but a diving catch in right-center by Lassiter helped the Rebels double up the runner on first and limit the damage in the first.

Ole Miss responded in the top half of the second, stringing together a pair of hits to knot things up. Brady singled to start the inning and tagged up to advance to second. Angelina DeLeon stepped to the plate and found the gap to drive in the equalizer.

After a one-out single in the bottom of the second, the Rebels turned to Kliethermes out of the bullpen. Miami (OH) took advantage of a throwing error before retaking the lead with a three-run home run. The following inning, the Redhawks tacked on two more runs with their third home run of the game to make it 7-1.

Trying to chip away at the lead, Ole Miss got one run back in the fourth. Smith singled up the middle and moved into scoring position after a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Lassiter knocked in Smith to bring the Rebels within five, but Miami (OH) escaped the inning.

The Rebels came alive in the fifth inning, rallying for six runs on six hits to shift the momentum back in their favor. Aynslie Furbush led things off with a single, and Jamie Mackay reached on a fielding error at third to put a pair of runners on for Brady. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native blasted her fifth home run of the season to make it 5-7. Smith followed, going back-to-back with Brady. Her solo shot pulled Ole Miss within one and forced the Redhawks to make a change in the circle.

Ole Miss kept the rally alive as Ryan Starr singled to turn things over for the top of the order. Lassiter ripped the first pitch she saw down the left field line, scoring Starr from first base to tie the score at seven. Rummell then drove in the go-ahead run in Lassiter with a single on the ninth pitch of her at bat.

Now leading 8-7, Kliethermes retired six of the next seven batters she faced, inching Ole Miss closer to victory.

Looking for a few insurance runs, Rummell blasted her first home run as a Rebel to left center, a two-run shot, to extend Ole Miss’ lead to 10-8.

Miami (OH) didn’t go away quietly, hitting its fourth home run of the game to lead off the seventh inning, but Furbush entered the game to record the final three outs and pick up her second save of the season as Ole Miss won 10-8.

Picking up their second victory of the weekend, the Rebels earned the No. 2 placement in the Clemson Classic, setting up a rematch with the host, No. 9 Clemson, on Sunday, February 25, at 11:30 a.m. CT.

(Featured Image: Courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics)

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports