Ole Miss upsets Florida, earns quarterfinal spot vs. Texas in SEC softball tournament

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An upset in the Southeastern Conference softball tournament means third-seeded Texas will play a team Thursday it hasn't faced this season.

Mackenzie Pickens smashed a 3-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to lift Ole Miss past sixth-seeded Florida 6-3 in the second round at Jack Turner Softball Stadium in Athens, Georgia. The Rebels take on the Longhorns at 4 p.m. CDT, Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Florida loaded the bases in the bottom half with two outs, but Rebels pitcher Brianna Lopez coaxed Korbe Otis into a ground out to end the game. Lopez started the game in the circle before Aaliyah Binford entered with two out in the fourth inning. Binford became the pitcher of record since Lopez didn't complete the inning, allowing Lopez to pick up a save despite being the game's starter. Softball substitution rules allow the starting pitcher to return to the circle after being replaced.

The Gators left 14 runners on base and were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, but got the game to extra innings with a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the seventh. Jocelyn Erickson and Taylor Shumaker smacked homers to tie the game 3-3 with no outs, but the Gators couldn't get one more big hit. They advanced the winning run to third base with two outs, but Kenleigh Cahalan flied out to left field, ending the inning.

Florida out-hit the Rebels 9-6, but the Gators were 2-for-20 with runners on.

Ole Miss beat Missouri 1-0 in the first round Tuesday for the right to face Florida.