LAFAYETTE, La. – The No. 21 Ole Miss softball program recovered from a slow start to earn a split of a doubleheader with McNeese on day one of the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational.
The Rebels (4-3, 0-0 SEC) nearly recovered for a historic comeback, but fell 12-11 to the Cowgirls (5-2, 0-0 SLC) in the opener. However, the Rebels rallied to earn a comfortable, 8-3 win in game two.
GAME ONE | No. 21 Ole Miss 11, McNeese 12
The Rebels found themselves behind from the jump, falling into a 10-1 hole, despite a Persy Llamas RBI double. However, the Rebels started to slowly regroup and found their power swings.
A Llamas third inning walk gave Madi George an opportunity and the freshman did not disappoint, launching a two-run home run to make it 10-3.
The next time through the order, the Rebels surged even further. Llamas led off the fifth inning with a solo home run and George went back-to-back with Llamas, launching her second home run of the day to make it 10-5. From there, Taylor Roman singled to set up Grace Thompson, who recorded her first collegiate home run to cut the lead to just three.
While the Rebels offense got going, the pitching was settled down by freshman Payton Kennedy, who made her collegiate debut in relief. Kennedy threw 4.2 innings of relief, allowing just two runs and striking out two to keep the Rebels in the game.
The Rebels continued to chip away, as Llamas joined George with her second home run of the day to make it 10-8 in the sixth inning. While McNeese scored two runs in the seventh inning, the Rebels made one final push.
A two out rally was started by Thompson reaching on an error. Tenly Grisham drew a walk and a run would come home on another McNeese error to make it 12-9. Mackenzie Pickens was up next and laced a two-run single to bring the go-ahead run to the plate at 12-11. Ultimately, McNeese was able to escape with the win, following a pitching change.
GAME TWO | No. 21 Ole Miss 8, McNeese 3
The Rebels carried the momentum gained in game one and quickly jumped out to a lead, as Cassie Reasner blasted a solo home run in the second inning for a 1-0 lead.
That lead increased the next inning, as Thompson led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a Grisham walk, Thompson promptly came home on a double steal to make it 2-0. From there, Pickens roped a double and Llamas drove her in with an RBI single. Llamas came home on the very next at-bat as George ripped a triple into the corner to make it 4-0.
While McNeese was able to cut the lead to 4-2, they were largely stifled by pitcher Lilly Whitten, who limited any damage and allowed just four hits over four innings. Her teammates continued to pick her up, scoring two on an RBI single by George and an error, making it 6-2.
Kyra Aycock took over in the circle with the bases loaded and spun three hitless innings en route to a save, allowing just one run to come home on a fielder’s choice. The Rebels put the game on ice in the sixth inning, manufacturing two runs on a passed ball and groundout to make it 8-3.
The Rebels will continue play in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational on Friday, facing off with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 11 a.m. CT, followed by Louisiana at 1:30 p.m. CT.