No. 17 Softball Rides Power Surge to Win in Finale at No. 18 Mississippi State

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Behind a pair of home runs, the No. 17 Ole Miss softball offense came alive to take game three, 6-4, over No. 18 Mississippi State on Saturday evening at Nusz Park.

Miali Guachino picked up the win in relief for the Rebels (35-16, 11-13 SEC) going four scoreless frames, allowing just two hits and striking out one. Mackenzie Pickens and Aliyah Binford each tallied a home run to power the offense past the Bulldogs (37-16, 13-11 SEC).

After two low-scoring games to open the weekend, both teams finally found their offensive rhythm. The Bulldogs were the first to strike with a leadoff home run as part of a two-run inning.

The Rebels delivered a response in the top of the second inning, as Mackenzie Pickens walked, Ashton Lansdell dropped in a bunt single and Angelina DeLeon drew a hit-by-pitch to load the bases with no outs. Taylor Malvin drove in the first run of the day from there on a sacrifice fly, making it 2-1.

Jaden Pone promptly reloaded the bases with a walk to set up Lair Beautae. Beautae delivered another sacrifice fly, tying the game at 2-2. An additional walk gave the Rebels more chances, but the Bulldogs escaped from further damage.

The Rebels continued to put the pressure on, as Lexie Brady led off the third inning with a double. Pickens stepped in next and laced a home run to center field, giving Ole Miss a 4-2 advantage.

The offense threatened again in the third inning, but the Bulldogs danced out of trouble. That wasn’t the case in the fourth inning, as the Rebels matched their scoring output in the third with a similar result. Beautae singled and Binford drove her in, blasting her second home run of the weekend to extend the lead to 6-2.

Mississippi State would not go quietly, striking for two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the lead to 6-4. However, Guachino was able to generate the final out, snaring a liner back to her and ending the inning.

Guachino would go on to roll from there, getting through a quick fifth and sixth inning. On the offensive side, the Rebels attempted to add more run support, as Jamie Mackay doubled in the sixth inning, but Mississippi State held the Rebels off the board.

With three outs to go, Guachino got the first, but the speedy Sierra Sacco legged out an infield single to put the pressure on the Rebels. However, a heads up play by Guachino on a line out, helped catch Sacco off the bag at first and secure a game-winning double play.

With the win, the Rebels improved to 4-1 in regular season finales under head coach Jamie Trachsel, with all four wins coming against ranked opponents.

Ole Miss will now turn their attention to the SEC Tournament, which will begin Tuesday, May 6 and run through Saturday, May 10 in Athens, Ga.

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For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at @olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.

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Team Stats

Jaden Pone

Lexie Brady

Mackenzie Pickens

Angelina DeLeon

The University of Mississippi Athletics