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Ole Miss advances to quarterfinals of SEC Softball Tournament with extra-innings win over LSU

11by:Jake Thompson•05/10/23•

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Ole Miss softball defeated LSU in the second round of the SEC Tournament off a two-run home run by Paige Smith. (Photo courtesy of Ole Miss athletics)

The regular season was one of ups and downs for the Ole Miss softball team the postseason has gotten off to a strong start on Wednesday in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

Tied with No. 6 seed LSU in the 10th inning Ole Miss senior Paige Smith hit a two-run home run that served to be winning blow for the No. 11 seed Rebels in a 5-3 victory in the first game of the second round of the SEC Tournament in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Ole Miss (30-25, 8-16 SEC) advances to Thursday’s quarterfinal round and will take on No. 3 seed Auburn at 10 a.m. CT on the SEC Network.

A back and forth start to the game saw the Tigers jump out to an early 1-0 lead before Ole Miss responded with a pair of runs in the third inning. The Rebels scored a run in the fifth inning off a pair of LSU errors.

The Tigers tied the game up with Ole Miss at 3-all in the bottom that inning off a two-RBI double by shortstop Taylor Pleasants.

“I knew if Tate (Whitley) got on, I was going to get her open, no matter what I had to do,” Smith said. “And just, one pitch, one big swing, and it worked.”

Smith hit the game-winning home run with no outs in the 10th inning a hard-hit ball to left field that bounced off the wall and out-of-play. Freshman Jalia Lassiter made a leaping grab in center field to end the game with LSU having a runner on first.

We talk about big hits in big moments, big plays in big moments, then big pitches in big moments. And Paige had a huge one, too,” Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel said. “Our defense, our outfielders did a phenomenal job. We find different ways to win. We have a lot of confidence.”

In the regular season Ole Miss dropped the series to LSU after winning the opening game then losing the final two of the weekend last month.

Ole Miss also dropped its series at Auburn the following weekend. The Rebels won the second game of the weekend to force a rubber match that the Tigers won to claim the series.

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