University of Missouri
17-6, 1-0
Ole Miss
12-11, 0-1
No. 23/24 Mizzou Softball Run-Rules Ole Miss to Open SEC Play
3/6/2020 10:42:00 PM | Softball
Tigers win SEC opener for the first time since 2016
Columbia, Mo. – Mizzou Softball pushed its win streak to three with a 9-1 run-rule victory over Ole Miss, Friday night at Mizzou Softball Stadium.
Ole Miss (12-11, 0-1 SEC) took the lead on a RBI double from Jessica Puk with one out in the top of the first. Rebels' pitcher Molly Jacobsen struck out nine batters to hold a 1-0 advantage over the Tigers (17-6, 1-0 SEC) through the first four innings.
Mizzou would finally strike with a six-spot in the bottom of the fifth, and tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning. Jazmyn Rollin walked it off with a home run to center field.
TURNING POINT
Down 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Mizzou finally broke through at the plate with the first three batters in the order reaching safely. Imani Myint drew a walk, while Brooke Wilmes and Jazmyn Rollin got on base with a pair of bunts.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Cayla Kessinger ripped a triple down the right field line to empty the bases, and give the Tigers their first lead of the night. Kimberly Wert and Megan Moll chipped in three more runs on RBI singles to end the frame with a 6-1 advantage over the Rebels.
Ole Miss threatened to close the gap with two runners on in the top of the sixth, but Eli Daniel came into the circle in relief. An errant pitch took the Rebels' base runners off the base, and a moment of hesitation by Mikayla Alee caused the out at third base to end the inning.
The first three batters in the order scored for Mizzou in the bottom half of the inning, with Wilmes hitting a RBI double, before Rollin's two-run homer to center ended the game early.
TOP TIGERS
- Jazmyn Rollin went 3-for-3 at the plate. The sophomore scored twice while batting in a pair of runs.
- Megan Moll batted in a career-high two runs on the night off a single in the fifth inning. She finished 1-for-3 at the plate.
- Cayla Kessinger hit Mizzou's second triple of the season, batting in three runs. She finished 1-for-2 at the plate with one run.
- Megan Schumacher picked up her fourth win of the season in relief.
NOTES
- Cayla Kessinger improved her hitting streak to 12 games. It is her longest hitting streak since riding a 14-game wave over the 2017-18 seasons.
- Kessinger posted her ninth multi-RBI game of the season. She has batted in at least three runs six times this season.
- Brooke Wilmes has reached base safely in 17-straight games.
- The Tigers picked up their first win in an SEC opener since the 2016 season. Mizzou defeated Ole Miss 5-3 that season (April 18).
- Mizzou run-ruled a team for only the fourth time this season.
- The Tigers run-ruled consecutive opponents for the first time since run-ruling Utah and Arizona State to open the 2019 season (Feb. 8).
UP NEXT
The Tigers continue the three-game series with a 4 p.m. showdown against the Rebels. Mizzou is seeking its first series victory in a SEC opener since 2016.
For the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned at MUTigers.com or follow the program on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schumacher, Megan (4-2)
L: Molly Jacobsen (5-5)
Batting:
2B: Jessica Puk 1 ; Abbey Latham 1
RBI: Jessica Puk 1
SH: Sydney Gutierrez 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelsha Loftin 1
SB: Kelsha Loftin 1 ; Autumn Gillespie 1
CS: Mikayla Allee 1
HBP: Mikayla Allee 1 ; Paige Smith 1
Batting:
2B: Wilmes, Brooke 1
3B: Kessinger, Cayla 1
HR: Rollin, Jazmyn 1
RBI: Wilmes, Brooke 1 ; Rollin, Jazmyn 2 ; Kessinger, Cayla 3 ; Wert, Kimberly 1 ; Moll, Megan 2
SH: Wilmes, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wilmes, Brooke 2 ; Rollin, Jazmyn 2 ; Kessinger, Cayla 1 ; McGivern, Hannah 1 ; Cook, Kendal 1 ; Myint, Imani 2
SB: Cook, Kendal 1
