The Ole Miss softball team lost a close game to No. 15 LSU, falling 6-4 on April 17 after leading into the late innings.
The loss marks another tough outing for the Rebels, who are now 27-19 overall and hold a 2-14 record in Southeastern Conference play. The Tigers improved their season record to 30-14 and moved to 7-9 in conference games.
LSU took an early lead with a solo home run in the first inning, but Ole Miss quickly answered when Madi George hit her sixteenth home run of the season in the second inning. Emilee Boyer kept LSU scoreless through three more innings, striking out two batters and executing key defensive plays, including a double play in the fourth inning.
Ole Miss gained momentum in the fifth inning as Taylor Malvin drew a walk and Kennedy Bunker reached base on an error. After both advanced on a passed ball, Mackenzie Pickens drove in a run with an RBI groundout. Persy Llamas then extended the lead with a two-run home run to center field, putting Ole Miss ahead by three runs.
However, LSU mounted a comeback with two outs in the sixth inning, scoring five runs off an RBI single and an inside-the-park home run that put them ahead for good. In their final at-bat, Ole Miss threatened again as Malvin and Bunker collected hits but were unable to tie or retake the lead before LSU closed out the game with strong pitching.
Ole Miss will face LSU again on Saturday at 5 p.m., with streaming available via SEC Network Plus.
