HONOLULU, Hawaii – Ole Miss softball bounced back on Day Two of the Paradise Classic, topping Nevada 3-2 in a gritty extra inning battle and run-ruling Kansas City 9-1 Friday evening at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
 
The Rebels (2-1, 0-0 SEC) got the bats going, posting 10-plus hits against Nevada (2-2, 0-0 Mountain West) and Kansas City (0-4, 0-0 Summit League), including six for extra bases. Jalia Lassiter and Jamie Mackay led the way at the plate with four hits, followed by Lexie Brady and Delaney Rummell, who each finished with three.
 
In the circle, Makenna Kliethermes tossed a brilliant game after surrendering two early runs. She struck out nine batters in eight innings of work. In game two, Grace Sparks picked up the win, going 5.0 innings and only allowing an unearned run in the first.
 
GAME ONE: Ole Miss 3, Nevada 2
Late game heroics from Ryan Starr helped Ole Miss take down Nevada 3-2 in extra innings. The sophomore shortstop drove in two runs in the sixth and eighth to tie and walk off the game.
 
Nevada put runners in scoring position early, threatening the Rebels in the first two innings, but Makenna Kliethermes stranded the Wolfpack both times with a strikeout to end the inning.
 
Scoreless heading into the third, Nevada broke through with a pair of runs on an RBI double and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Angelina DeLeon got Ole Miss on the board in the bottom of the fourth. After Aynslie Furbush and Delaney Rummell led off the inning with back-to-back base hits, the Rebel second baseman sent one back up the middle to cut the deficit in half.
 
Needing one run to tie the game, Starr delivered with a runner on third and two outs. Rummell singled to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before Taylor Malvin came in to run for her. Malvin advanced to third on a flyout to right and scored as Starr slapped a single past the shortstop.
 
In the seventh, Kliethermes recorded a pair of big strikeouts to stall Nevada’s offense with a runner in scoring position. The Rebels went down in order in the bottom half of the inning, sending the contest into extra innings.
 
After retiring the side in the top half of the inning, Starr and the bottom of the order delivered. Lexie Brady started at second with international tiebreaker rules in effect. She moved 60 feet from home on a sacrifice bunt by Furbush, forcing Nevada to intentionally walk the next two batters to load the bases. The Wolfpack got a strikeout but couldn’t escape the inning as Starr delivered the walk-off blow.
 
GAME TWO: Ole Miss 9, Kansas City 1
In the nightcap, an offensive explosion from Lexie Brady and Jamie Mackay helped power Ole Miss past Kansas City with a 9-1 run-rule victory in six innings. Brady smashed two home runs, giving her three in just three games so far this season, and Mackay went a career best 4-for-4.
 
Kansas City plated an unearned run in the first, taking advantage of a throwing error in the rain. Sparks kept the Roos’ offense in check the remainder of the game before Brianna Lopez tossed the final inning.
 
Ole Miss answered in the second with a three-spot courtesy of Lassiter. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the leadoff hitter, who drove everyone in with a double off the wall in right center.
 
The following inning, a parade of home runs added three more runs to the lead. Brady and Furbush smacked back-to-back solo home runs, and one batter later, Mackay blasted another solo shot to make it 6-1.
 
Looking to put things out of reach, a pair of Rebels reached base to start the sixth inning, bringing Brady back to the plate. She delivered the dagger with a three-run shot deep into the night, marking her first career multi-home run game.
 
The Rebels are back in action against the tournament host Hawaii on February 10. First pitch is slated for 10 p.m. CT.
 
For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at @olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.