Bunker Homers Twice, Walks Off for Ole Miss in Win Over No. 16 Mississippi State

OXFORD, Miss. — Kennedy Bunker homered twice, including a walk-off shot in the bottom of the seventh inning, to lift Ole Miss to a 3-2 victory over No. 16 Mississippi State on Friday night at Alisa and Mark Bourne Stadium.

Bunker’s first home run came just two pitches into the game, a solo shot off the right field light pole that gave the Rebels an early lead. She finished the game 2-for-2 with two RBIs and reached safely in all four of her at-bats.

Kyra Aycock started on the mound for Ole Miss, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless through the first three innings. Lilly Whitten and Emilee Boyer combined to pitch seven innings, allowing five hits and striking out four to secure the win.

Ole Miss took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning on a bases-loaded single by Laylonna Applin, who drove in pinch-runner Tenly Grisham. Mississippi State responded in the top of the seventh with a solo home run by Xiane Romero, tying the game at 2-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, Bunker delivered her second home run, a 1-2 pitch just to the right of her first, sealing the victory for the Rebels. The win improves Ole Miss’s record to 31-23 overall and 5-18 in SEC play.

Ole Miss will host Mississippi State again Saturday at 2 p.m. CT in the final game of the regular season, which will be televised on the SEC Network.

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