COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Softball (28-24, 6-15 SEC) dropped a 6-0 matchup to No. 21 Ole Miss on Friday evening, kicking off its final Southeastern Conference series of the year. The Tigers' offense couldn't solve the Rebels' starting pitcher, Kaitlin Lee, as she allowed only four hits in a complete game shutout victory.
Senior Cheyenne Baxter (Norborne, Mo.) matched Lee's effectiveness in the circle early on, allowing zero hits to Ole Miss through four innings of play. The visiting Rebels finally broke through in the top half of the fifth inning, as they took advantage of two hit batters, a bases loaded walk and two infield RBI singles.
Despite only allowing one hit through four-plus innings in the circle, Baxter was charged with three earned runs on the final scoresheet. Ole Miss held a 3-0 lead heading to its at bat in the sixth inning and added three additional insurance runs in the frame. Two of the Rebels' three runs were once again courtesy of infield base hits.
Sophomore Kolby Romaine (Chino Hills, Calif.), freshman Cayla Kessinger (Saugus, Calif.), senior Natalie Fleming (Silex, Mo.) and senior Chloe Rathburn (Mission Viejo, Calif.) all recorded a single hit for the Tigers. Kessinger's seventh inning double highlighted Mizzou's offensive output on the night.
The Tigers' top scoring threat occurred in the fifth inning, as Rathburn and Fleming's back to back singles put two on with one out. Mizzou couldn't bust through however, as a strikeout and line out quickly ended the scoring opportunity.
Sophomore Regan Nash's (Camden Point, Mo.) leadoff walk in the Tigers' first frame extended her career high safely reached base streak to 16 games. Kessinger and Romaine each extended their current hitting streaks to five games following their respective hits Friday night.
Up Next
Game two of this weekend's series between Mizzou and Ole Miss is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 6. Fans unable to make it to Mizzou Softball Stadium can tune-in live on SEC Network + via WatchESPN.
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