STARKVILLE — Elantra Cox believes she has always played softball with a level head.
Fortunately for the sophomore left fielder, a lot of the members of the Ole Miss softball team feel that way.
As Ole Miss continues to re-write the school’s record book, the level-headed focus will be critical moving forward.
That focus was there Wednesday, as Ole Miss beat No. 15 Georgia 4-2 at Nusz Park for its first victory in the Southeastern Conference tournament.
“I just think this team has the perfect mind-set,” Cox said. “There is no moment that is too big. We feel like we are going to win against anybody in the nation. That’s a new feeling. Staying grounded and always looking to that at next at-bat and that next opponent has been huge. It is why we are winning.”
Ole Miss (39-19) will face No. 1 Florida (52-4) at 4 p.m. today in the tournament’s quarterfinal round. Georgia (40-17) will await its NCAA fate when selections are made Sunday night.
“It is so much fun playing every day on this team,” Ole Miss senior pitcher Madi Osias said. “Each day, coach (Mike Smith) is challenging us to be the first team to do this or the first team to do that. You can’t help but thrive on that. It motivates you go to work every day.”
Smith, who is in his second season, has led the Rebels to a season of firsts. Ole Miss finished the regular season with a school record 38 wins, topping the previous mark of 30 wins accomplished by the 2005 and 2015 teams.
The Rebels also won 11 SEC games, tying the school record for league wins in a season.
“When we came here (two seasons ago), our job was to make Ole Miss softball relevant on a national level,” Smith said. “I think there is no question that we have done that. It didn’t happen overnight. It took time. It took hard work. To be able to come in here and win a game like this against a team like Georgia is a huge statement.
“It tells you where we are headed as a program.”
Smith and Georgia coach Lu Harris-Champer agreed on the game’s biggest play. Despite stranding 16 runners, Ole Miss led 4-1 in the home half of the sixth inning. Georgia then loaded the bases on the only Ole Miss error, a double by Alex Hugo, and a hit batter. Alyssa DiCarlo then lined a fly ball to left-center field that center fielder Miranda Strother snared thanks to a great running catch. Strother’s throw to the plate was a second late, allowing one run to score. However, catcher Courtney Syrett threw to third baseman Ashton Lampton to retire another runner.
Ole Miss got two critical outs on the play and came within an eyelash of a triple play.
“When the ball leaves the bat, you are thinking you can get two runs home,” Harris-Champer said. “Instead, the play ends with two outs. That was really a damaging play, and it really hurt our chances at the comeback.”
Osias (21-7) has set a school record for victories in a season this year. The double play helped her throw her ninth complete game.
“It’s just how much this team has grown up,” Osias said. “We were in a tight spot and everybody had to do their job just perfectly. The catch, the throw, the second throw. It was an incredible play. That is the type of play we have been making this season.”
Smith said momentum was with Ole Miss after a two-run single by Cox broke up a scoreless game in the second. The momentum shifted to Georgia in the sixth, but he said it reverted to Ole Miss after that pitch.
“We were in trouble,” Smith said. “That shows you this team is a little different.”
Ole Miss stretched the lead to 4-0 in the fourth on a single by Ashton Lampton and an out.
By that time, Osias was in a groove. She allowed five hits and one earned run and struck out four in an 82-pitch effort.
Ole Miss couldn’t expand the lead despite loading the bases in the fifth, sixth, and seventh.
“We will talk about that another day,” Smith said jokingly.
On Wednesday, the missed opportunities didn’t matter. Ole Miss was on a mission before a large contingent of fans who had made the 95-minute drive to Starkville.
“We felt like we were playing at home. That was such a great feeling,” Smith said. “We had fans, parents, administrators. They were all here. They know what we are doing. They know where we are headed.”
Ole Miss hopes to continue its history-making season with its first NCAA regional appearance. The Rebels entered the week with a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) of 27.
Alabama coach Patrick Murphy and LSU coach Beth Torina each called Ole Miss a lock after their teams’ victories Wednesday. Still, Smith was campaigning. After all, this is new territory for his club.
“The victory over Tennessee (in the last weekend of the regular season) was huge,” Smith said. “This win is huge. You like our resume, but you really never know how much more you have to do. We have another opportunity (Thursday against Florida). Do you feel like you are in? Yes. Do you feel like you are worthy of being in? Yes.
“These girls have gone on an incredible run this season. Each day it’s a new experience.”
If Ole Miss gets the nod on Selection Sunday, it will approach a potential first regional win the same way it approached Wednesday.
“We aren’t intimidated. That is for sure,” Cox said. “That is the biggest difference in this team. We don’t go out there thinking we can win. We go out there expecting to win. It’s pretty exciting to feel that way.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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