No. 11 Softball rallies late to defeat Ole Miss, 3-2

Saturday, February 23

Austin, Texas

1 p.m. CT

University of Texas

10-1

#RV Ole Miss

8-5

Ole Miss

Texas

No. 11 Softball rallies late to defeat Ole Miss, 3-2

02.23.2019 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns broke through for three runs in the sixth inning to win their fourth consecutive game

AUSTIN, Texas – On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in Texas Invitational action at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 11/10 Texas softball (10-1) strung together a three-run sixth inning to rally past Ole Miss (8-5), 3-2.

Major Players

Senior right fielder Bekah Alcozer led the charge at the plate by going 1-for-3 with a key sixth-inning, two-RBI double, while junior left fielder Shannon Rhodes went 1-for-3 with the RBI single that granted UT the lead. Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson was 2-for-3 with a run scored and got Texas' late outburst going with a leadoff bunt single.

In the Circle

Freshman Shealyn O'Leary improved to 4-0 after allowing just one hit and striking out two over 3.0 innings of relief work. As the starter, senior Brooke Bolinger permitted two earned runs on three hits with two walks and four K's in 4.0 frames.

The Details

It was Ole Miss that grabbed the early lead on Saturday as catcher Autumn Gillespie made it 1-0 on a two-out, second-inning solo HR to center.

Meanwhile, Texas' offense managed at least one base runner in each of the first three innings against Rebel ace Molly Jacobsen, but couldn't locate the big hit it needed while leaving four stranded over that stretch.

Another big fly doubled Ole Miss' advantage to 2-0 in the top of the fourth as first baseman Abbey Latham started the frame with a solo drive to center.

With O'Leary on in relief keeping the Rebels from any further damage, the Longhorns offense finally strung an assault together against Jacobsen in the sixth. As she so often does, Jefferson got things underway via her speed, hustling to beat out a leadoff bunt single. A Mary Iakopo walk and a Lauren Burke single to left loaded the bases with one out and set the stage for UT heroics. Alcozer stepped into the box and launched a key two-run double to the wall in left to tie the game. With two still in scoring position, Rhodes ripped a RBI single through the left side of the infield to hand Texas its first lead at 3-2.

Ole Miss tried to mount its own rally in the top of the seventh as third baseman Jessica Puk began the frame with a bloop single to right. With the tying run at second for the Rebels and one down after a sacrifice bunt, O'Leary bore down from the circle, inducing a foul out and a fly ball to left to end UT's comeback win.