BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Behind a balanced offensive attack, the No. 25 Ole Miss softball program earned an emphatic, 13-0 win over Mercer in five innings on Friday afternoon at the Green & Gold Classic.
The Rebels (8-4, 0-0 SEC) matched the biggest offensive performance of the season so far, driving in 13 runs on 10 hits. Cassie Reasner paced the offense with a home run and three RBI on a 3-for-4 day. Emilee Boyer delivered four scoreless frames in the circle to stifle the Bears (8-4, 0-0 SoCon).
Right from the start, the Rebel offense found success. A first inning Mackenzie Pickens walk, followed by a wild pitch delivered a run production opportunity for Persy Llamas, who made no mistake and delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 lead.
While the Bears threatened in the first inning with the bases loaded, a sensational effort on defense from Grace Thompson created a double play and preserved what would become a shutout.
Boyer commanded the circle from there, calmly breezing through the second and third inning without issue. Her offense tacked on more runs in the fourth inning, as Reasner singled, Thompson walked and two runs got into scoring position behind a fielder’s choice and a Cassidy Patterson stolen base. Tenly Grisham promptly drove both runs home with an RBI single to make it 3-0.
Grisham would steal second base and Taylor Malvin drove her in with an RBI single to make it 4-0. Malvin followed suit with her own stolen base and Pickens tacked on another run with an RBI double. Llamas would make it 6-0 on the next at bat with an RBI single to drive in Pickens.
While the Bears loaded the bases in the fourth inning, Boyer generated a groundout to get out of the jam and set the Rebels up with a chance at securing a run rule victory.
A leadoff home run by Reasner got things going and made it 7-0. The Rebels promptly loaded the bases thanks to a Thompson single, Rachel Connors hit-by-pitch and Laylonna Applin walk. From there, the Rebels tallied a run on an error, followed by back-to-back bases loaded walks from Liesl Osteen and Pickens to make it 10-0.
Llamas tacked on another run on a groundout and the Rebels reloaded the bases with a Madi George walk. Reasner came back up for a second time in the frame and drove in two more runs, this time with an RBI single to make it 13-0.
From there, Graycen Jordan would come out of the bullpen for her collegiate debut, delivering a clean fifth inning to secure the win.
The Rebels are back in action on Saturday, facing off against Southern Illinois and Missouri State. Game one against Southern Illinois opens at 9 a.m. CT and will be followed by a contest against Missouri State at 11:30 a.m. CT.