The Ole Miss softball team, ranked No. 25, finished the Green & Gold Classic with a split on Sunday at Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The Rebels lost their opening game to Missouri State 3-2 but rebounded with a decisive 16-1 win over Mercer in five innings.
In the first game against Missouri State, Ole Miss took an early lead with a double from Mackenzie Pickens and an RBI single by Madi George. Emilee Boyer started in the circle for the Rebels and struck out four batters through the first eight outs. However, two walks in the third inning set up Missouri State’s three-run home run, putting them ahead 3-1.
Ole Miss had opportunities to score in both the fourth and fifth innings. Kennedy Bunker hit a solo home run in the fifth to cut the deficit to one run. Boyer continued her strong performance and finished with a season-high ten strikeouts. In the seventh inning, Ole Miss put runners on base but could not capitalize as Missouri State closed out the win.
In their second game of the day against Mercer, Ole Miss quickly overcame an early solo home run by Mercer. Pickens contributed an RBI single and George added another to give Ole Miss a 2-1 lead after one inning. Kyra Aycock pitched around trouble in the second before Pickens hit a three-run home run to extend the lead.
By the third inning, Ole Miss held a comfortable advantage after scoring multiple runs on hits from Grace Thompson, Tenly Grisham, Taylor Malvin, Pickens, and Cassie Reasner. The offensive surge continued into the fourth with Taylor Roman hitting a two-run homer and Liesl Osteen recording her first hit as a Rebel with an RBI double.
Pickens ended her day with four hits and six RBIs—matching a single-game program record for RBIs—and Laylonna Applin added her first home run as a Rebel with a pinch-hit three-run shot. Hope Jenkins pitched in relief to secure the win for Ole Miss.
Following this tournament performance, Ole Miss returns home for an extended homestand that begins Wednesday against Central Arkansas at 5 p.m., which will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
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