The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
15-9, 0-4
Auburn
27-2, 1-0
Ole Miss Falls To No. 12 Auburn In Series Opener
3/14/2015 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. - It was a tight contest early, but a pair of big innings proved too much to overcome as Ole Miss (15-9, 0-4 SEC) fell to No. 12 Auburn (27-2, 1-0 SEC) by a score of 14-3 in five innings on Saturday night in the series opener.
The Rebels got a two-RBI single from Grayce Majam in the second inning to cut the Auburn lead to one-run, but the Tigers used four home runs on the night to grab the win.
Lauren Lindsey (4-2) took the loss for the Rebels, allowing 10 runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts through 3.0 innings of work. She was one of three Rebels pitchers to see action on the night.
Marcy Harper (7-2) picked up the win for the Tigers, allowing three runs on six hits - including a Madi Osias home run - while notching a walk and two strikeouts.
"I thought we competed in those innings where we scored; we were lively in the dugout and had the energy we needed," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith. "That's a good hitting team in the other dugout. There's a reason they have the numbers they have this year. They're tough outs. We have to do a better job in the circle of hitting spots and not giving them good pitches to hit. The best part about it is we get to come back tomorrow and have a chance to even the series."
Auburn grabbed the early lead, plating three runs in the second inning with an RBI groundout from Morgan Estell and a two-run home run from Jade Rhodes to take the three-run lead on the Rebels.
Ole Miss answered in the home half of the inning, getting the two-RBI hit from Majam that brought home Alex Schneider and Courtney Syrett to cut the lead to 3-2. Schneider opened the inning with a single to reach base before Syrett was hit by a pitch. The pair moved into scoring position on a sac bunt before coming home on the two-out hit from the Rebels' freshman shortstop.
Auburn jumped the lead back out to five runs in the third inning, using a two-RBI double from Haley Fagan and a two-run home run from Rhoads to move in front 7-2 on the Rebels.
The Tigers continued to build on the lead in the fourth inning with a third home run on the night from Rhoads, a three-run shot, and a grand slam from Emily Carosone to take the score out to 14-2.
Osias hit her fourth home run of the season with a solo shot in the home half of the fourth to cut the lead to 14-3 for the final margin of victory.
Ole Miss and Auburn will play game two of the series at 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The contest will be televised by ESPNU.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Marcy Harper (7-2)
L: Lindsey, Lauren (4-2)
Batting:
2B: Kasey Cooper 1 ; Haley Fagan 2
HR: Emily Carosone 1 ; Jade Rhodes 3
RBI: Emily Carosone 4 ; Haley Fagan 2 ; Morgan Estell 1 ; Jade Rhodes 7
Base Running:
RUNS: Tiffany Howard 1 ; Emily Carosone 2 ; Kasey Cooper 1 ; Branndi Melero 1 ; Haley Fagan 2 ; Morgan Estell 2 ; Jade Rhodes 3 ; Victoria Draper 1 ; Sydne Waldrop 1
SB: Branndi Melero 1 ; Haley Fagan 1
HBP: Kelsey Bogaards 1 ; Emily Carosone 1 ; Courtney Shea 1 ; Jenna Abbott 1
Batting:
2B: Syrett, Courtney 1
HR: Osias, Madi 1
RBI: Osias, Madi 1 ; Majam, Grayce 2
SH: McKinney, Paige 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schneider, Alex 1 ; Osias, Madi 1 ; Syrett, Courtney 1
SB: Cox, Elantra 1
HBP: Syrett, Courtney 1
