March 13, 2005

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ole Miss (18-9, 2-1 SEC) found its bats on Sunday, using a dominant fourth inning that saw nine straight batters reach base as the Rebels picked up an 11-3 five-inning win over Kentucky (12-16, 1-2 SEC) to take the series from the Wildcats two games to one.

Dana Brill (5-4) picked up the second win of the weekend as she worked 4.0 innings, allowing no runs and striking out four and walking one on the day. The Wildcat's Meghan Cooper (3-7) suffered the loss as she gave up five runs on five hits, including a two-run home run for Lauren Rowe.

Kentucky scored three runs in the bottom of the first on designated player Mary Jane Callahan, who entered the game to pitch for Brill at the start of the bottom half of the first inning.

"This was a great way for us to wrap up this series," said Ole Miss head coach Candi Letts. "We struggled a bit in the first game, but found our rhythm in the second game on Saturday and carried that confidence over to today's game. We got after it at the plate and made the most of our opportunities."

Kentucky scored first in the top of the first after the bases were loaded with no outs. Brooke Marnitz grounded in a fielder's choice to second as the Rebels got Amber Janneck out at second for the second out of the inning, but Jessica Nance scored on the play. The Wildcats added two more runs on the next batter's double to right center scoring Marnitz and Glenn to put Kentucky up 3-0.

Ole Miss answered back with a run in the top of the second when Lauren Rowe doubled to the same spot in right center to score Chloe Kloezeman from third. Kloezeman reached on a double to right center and then advanced to third on a single up the middle from Jill Bandhauer. The Rebels added a second run on a single from Mandy Ott to right field that scored Bandhauer. The third run came on a fielding error at shortstop on a grounder from Brooke Turner to bring Rowe home from third.

The Rebels added two more runs in the top of the third when Rowe hammered a shot over the right field fence scoring Kloezeman from second who reached on a double. Ole Miss grabbed a 5-3 lead at that point.

Ole Miss added to the lead in the fourth inning with a stretch of impressive hits that saw nine straight batters reach base as the Rebels added six runs.

Kentucky could not answer in the next two at bats, ending the game by run-rule after the fifth inning of play.

The Rebels will return to action with a doubleheader against in-state rival Southern Miss on Thursday. The first game will begin at 5 p.m. at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.

Ole Miss 11, Kentucky 3 (Mar 13, 2005 at Lexington, Ky.)
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Ole Miss............ 032 60 - 11 15  0      (18-9, 2-1 SEC)
Kentucky............ 300 00 -  3  6  1      (12-16, 1-2 SEC)
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Pitchers: Ole Miss - D. Brill; M.J.Callahan(5). Kentucky - M. Cooper; S. Allen(5).
Win-D. Brill(5-4)  Loss-M. Cooper(3-7)  T-1:52  A-89
HR OM - L. Rowe (3).
S. Allen faced 6 batters in the 4th.
Hits- Bandhauer (OM) 2, Callahan (OM) 1, Chitwood (OM) 2, Cooper (UK) 1, Janneck (UK) 2, Justice (OM) 2, Kloezeman (OM) 2, Marnitz (UK) 1, Melchi (UK) 1, Mosley (OM) 1, Ott (OM) 1, Rowe (OM) 2, Warner (OM) 2.