Ole Miss softball won against No. 23 and 12th-seeded South Carolina, 2-0, in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on May 5. Senior Emilee Boyer pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits while striking out six and walking one batter at John Cropp Stadium.
The win marks the Rebels’ fifth consecutive opening round victory in the tournament. The result is important as it keeps Ole Miss (33-23, 6-18 SEC) advancing in postseason play while eliminating South Carolina (30-26, 7-17 SEC).
Persy Llamas gave Ole Miss an early lead with a solo home run in the first inning. Boyer maintained control from the circle despite early pressure from South Carolina, holding them scoreless through seven innings. In support of Boyer’s effort, Tenly Grisham made a diving catch in left field to preserve the lead during the third inning.
Taylor Malvin added to Ole Miss’s advantage with a double that scored Grisham from first base in the fifth inning. Despite a late single by South Carolina breaking up a string of ten consecutive outs by Boyer, she closed out her performance by retiring batters quickly in the seventh.
Looking ahead, Ole Miss will face Tennessee—ranked No. 5 nationally and seeded fifth—in their next game on Wednesday at 4 p.m., which will be televised on SEC Network.
The broader impact of this victory continues Ole Miss’s streak of success in tournament openers and gives them momentum heading into tougher competition.
