Ole Miss slugger Persy Llamas
Trailing by a run after three innings, No. 21 Ole Miss found itself in the latter stages of the game Friday to defeat host Louisiana-Lafayette 5-2 in the day’s second game of the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational in Lafayette, La.
As the Rebels’ improved to 6-3 on the season, Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel became the school’s all-time winningest coach.
Ole Miss will finish play at the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational on Saturday with a single game versus Louisiana-Lafayette set for a 1:30 p.m. CT start.
Pitcher Kyra Aycock (3-1) threw a complete game versus ULL. Aycock pitched seven innings, allowing just four hits and two unearned runs. She walked four and struck out four.
Behind 2-1, Ole Miss made its move in the top of the fourth. Second bas3eman McKenzier Pickens tied the game at 2-2 when she delivered an RBI single to third base, scoring a run. Then the back end of Ole Miss’ sensational sophomore duo came through in the clutch, as first baseman Persy Llamas put the Rebels ahead with a two-run single to left field.
Ole Miss added an unneeded insurance run on a Madi George single to shortstop to plate Taylor Malvin and make for the 5-2 final.
The top of the lineup did most of the damage for Ole Miss, as spots 1-4 accounted for seven of the team’s nine hits. That includes two-hit games for leadoff hitter Taylor Malvin, Pickens and Llamas. Pickens, who finished the game 2-for-3 with three runs-batted-in, hit a solo home run down the left field line in the top of the first inning.
It was Llamas’ eighth multi-hit game of the season.
Louisiana-Lafayette scored its two runs when Aycock ran into a little trouble in the bottom of the third. She recovered nicely, however, and held the Rajin’ Cajuns at bay the rest of the way.
NEXT UP
After playing Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, the Rebels play their first home game Monday at 12:30 p.m. CT versus Miami (Ohio). Tickets are on sale now for the matinee matchup.