The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
1-2
Arizona State
3-1
Rebels Fall 6-3 At No. 16 Arizona State
2/7/2015 | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. - Madi Osias hit a two-run shot to create a one-run game in the sixth, but the Sun Devils responded with a three-run inning of their own as Ole Miss (1-2) fell to No. 16 Arizona State (3-1) by a score of 6-3 Friday night at the Kajikawa Classic.
A pair of long balls provided the runs for the Rebels as freshman Alex Schneider hit her first collegiate home run in the seventh inning.
Osias (1-2) suffered the loss for the Rebels, allowing six runs - four of them earned - on five hits with six walks and three strikeouts. Osias pitched 5.1 innings in the game.
Breanna Macha (2-0) picked up the win for Arizona State, allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts through 7.0 innings of work.
"I felt like we battled with them after getting down to a good hitting team on a couple of pitches," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith. "After that tough inning, Madi (Osias) really settled down and really pitched a good ball game. Tip your cap to Arizona State's pitcher for that performance as a freshman - to mix up her pitches the way she was and keeping us off balance. But we kept battling and adjusting inning by inning and were able to make it a game there at the end."
The Sun Devils got on the board in the second inning, using a three-run shot to center field from Bethany Kemp. Amber Freeman reached on a double to the gap in left center to open the inning before a walk of Chelsea Gonzales put two men on base for Kemp. The Arizona State senior drove the ball out of the park to put the home team on top 3-0.
The home-standing Sun Devils threatened again in the third, loading the bases with one out. Osias worked masterfully at the plate to get a critical strikeout before coaxing a ground ball to first to escape the inning without any further damage as the Rebels remained in striking distance.
Ole Miss struck back in the sixth inning when Osias ripped a two-run home run down the right field line to get the Rebels on the board. Miranda Strother sparked the rally with a single through the left side and a fielding error on the play allowed her to scamper to second as Ole Miss cut into the lead.
Arizona State responded in the home half of the inning, using a single and a wild pitch to put a runner in scoring position to open the frame. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bases for the home team and the Rebels turned to junior Emily Gaitan in the circle.
A single to center combined with two errors on the play allowed three runs to score as Arizona State moved back in front of the Rebels 6-2.
Schneider hit her answering shot for the Rebels, hitting her first collegiate home run deep to left field to open the seventh inning and cut the lead to 6-3.
Ole Miss continued to fight, using a fielding error to put Grayce Majam on base before a pinch-hitting Bri Payne drove a double to right center to put two in scoring position.
The Rebels could get no closer, however, as the Sun Devils closed things out and picked up the win with back-to-back defensive plays to squelch the rally and grab the win.
Ole Miss will return to action on Saturday with a pair of games at the Tempe Sports Complex against Fresno State and UC Santa Barbara. First pitch is set for approximately 5:15 p.m. CT and 7:15 p.m. CT for the two games, depending on the completion of prior games on the field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Macha, B. (2-0)
L: Osias, Madi (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Payne, Bri 1
HR: Osias, Madi 1 ; Schneider, Alex 1
RBI: Osias, Madi 2 ; Schneider, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Strother, Miranda 1 ; Osias, Madi 1 ; Schneider, Alex 1
Batting:
2B: Freeman, A. 1
HR: Kemp, B. 1
RBI: Caporuscio 2 ; Kemp, B. 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Steele, B. 1 ; Stankiewicz 1 ; Gonzales, C. 1 ; Kemp, B. 1 ; Grebe, M. 1 ; Soria, J. 1
HBP: Rodriguez,S. 1
