Feb. 15, 2013

Box Score - Central Arkansas 4, Ole Miss 2

MOBILE, Ala. – The Ole Miss softball team (3-6) defeated Lamar 11-1 in five innings, but fell to Central Arkansas 4-2 on Friday, the opening day of the Mardi Gras Invitational in Mobile, Ala.

The Rebels outhit Central Arkansas in game two of their doubleheader, but a three-run home run by the Bears (5-2) in the bottom of the fifth was the difference.

“We played two good games today, but we need to finish,” Ole Miss softball head coach Windy Thees said. “We have been doing good things out there, but we need to get runs home and finish off games.”

Sophomore third baseman Allison Brown continued her strong play from game one of Friday’s doubleheader into the afternoon matchup. Brown, who went 2-4 with a double and three RBI against Lamar, was 2-3 against Central Arkansas with a double, triple and two runs.

Junior centerfielder RT Cantillo made a pair of strong plays in the outfield, laying out for a gorgeous catch to begin the bottom of the fourth, and gunning down the Bears’ Melanie Bryant at home plate to save a run in the same inning.

Ole Miss got on the board first in the top of the fourth, but the Bears tied it in the bottom half of the inning. UCA then took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run home run. Ole Miss got one run back in the top of the sixth, but couldn’t bring any more runs home.

Junior pitcher Carly Hummel was carded with the loss. Hummel tallied 5.2 innings of work, allowing five hits and striking out five.

Ole Miss will continue play in the Mardi Gras Invitational on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT against tournament host South Alabama. The Jaguars (3-1) are currently receiving votes in each of the two major polls.

Rebels Throttle Lamar 11-1

Box Score - Ole Miss 11, Lamar 1

MOBILE, Ala. – The Ole Miss Rebels jumped on the Lamar Cardinals early and never let up, cruising to an 11-1 victory Friday at Jaguar Field in Mobile, Ala.

Ole Miss got a complete game out of freshman pitcher Madi Osias against Lamar, allowing one run on four hits and recording one strikeout. The win is the first of Osias’ collegiate career.

Brown and Cantillo led Ole Miss at the plate against Lamar, driving in five RBI combined. Brown went 2-4 with a double and three RBI, while Cantillo was 3-3 with two runs and a pair of RBI.

The Rebels plated two runs in the first inning, and six more in the bottom of the third to take an 8-0 lead. After allowing one run in the top of the fourth, Ole Miss finished off the Cardinals with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 11-1 lead.

In all, seven Rebels tallied one or more RBI in the game, led by Brown’s three and Cantillo’s two.

For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball and on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball.