Fast start propels No. 13 Kentucky to series win over Rebels

Published 12:00 pm Monday, March 21, 2016

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Ole Miss gave up three early runs and couldn’t come from behind as No. 13 Kentucky took the series finale, 6-2, Sunday at John Cropp Stadium.

Kentucky (25-4, 5-1 SEC) delivered two home runs in the opening frame, and late surges by the Rebels (24-7, 2-4 SEC) offense wasn’t enough. Senior Madi Osias got the start and went three innings in the loss with five runs allowed and four walks, while Elisha Jahnke tossed the final three frames in relief and was solid with just one run allowed off five hits.

Ole Miss’ first run came in the fourth thanks to a solo home run from junior catcher Courtney Syrett – her second blast of the weekend – cutting the Cats’ lead to 3-1. Two frames later the Rebels added their final run of the contest thanks to a Sarah Van Schaik RBI off an infield groundout that scored Miranda Strother.

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Ole Miss had its chances at the dish as the Rebels got runners to second and third in the first, but got caught in a pickle and went down on a strikeout. Two innings later, Hailey Lunderman walked and stole second to get in scoring position, but again was stranded.

Strother and Syrett both finished with two hits with one run scored apiece, while Van Schaik, Raven Campos and Kylan Becker added one hit each. Syrett finished her career-best weekend with two home runs and four RBI and a slugging percentage of 1.500.

Kentucky’s Kelsey Nunley got the win in relief after allowing just one unearned run over the final 3.2 innings.