TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Rebel first baseman Londen Ladner knocked in her 12th run in the last ten games, but Ole Miss dropped the series finale 12-1 to the No. 1 nationally-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at Rhoads Stadium on Sunday.
Ladner put the Rebels (13-12, 2-3 SEC) on the scoreboard in the in the top of the first with an RBI single through the left side of the infield that scored leadoff batter Corrine Doornberg, who reached on a single up the middle to start the game. The base hit tied Ladner, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, for the Ole Miss lead with 25 RBI on the season.
Crimson Tide leadoff batter Kayla Braud answered back for Alabama in the bottom of the first with a leadoff home run to right that tied the game at one. Alabama added two more runs later the frame on a passed ball by Ole Miss catcher Marina Parra and a solo home run by designated player Amanda Locke. Alabama extended its lead with two more runs in the second on an errant throw by Parra on a pickoff attempt and an RBI fielder’s choice by first baseman Cassie Reilly-Boccia that put the Tide up 5-1.
Alabama (25-0, 6-0 SEC) added to its lead in the third with RBI singles from Braud and second baseman Danae Hays and tacked on five more runs in the fourth highlighted by a two-run single up the middle by pitcher Jackie Traina that extended the Tide lead to 12-1.
Junior Erinn Jayjohn started for Ole Miss and took the loss after giving up seven runs, five earned, on five hits in three innings of work. Freshman Lauren Lindsay entered in relief to start the fourth and pitched the final inning. She gave up five runs on four hits and walked one batter.
Ole Miss will return home for the first time in over two weeks on Wednesday when the Rebels host Central Arkansas at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.