STILLWATER, Oklahoma – Ole Miss got the bats going, but couldn’t fend off the Oklahoma State offense, falling to the Cowgirls in both games of the doubleheader 9-6 and 8-6 Friday at Cowgirl Stadium.
Both teams swapped multiple lead changes in the two-game set, but late surges by the Cowgirls was the difference in the close contests.
Senior Natalie Martinez finished the day with one home run and five RBI to lead the offensive attack, while six Rebels finished with multiple hits in the doubleheader.
See below for full recaps from both games on Friday.
Game One – Oklahoma State 9, Ole Miss 6
Ole Miss couldn’t outlast the Cowgirls in a slugfest, falling 9-6 in game one of the doubleheader. Oklahoma State slugged out 11 hits in the game, four of which were home runs, while the Rebels tallied 10.
The Rebels plated runs in the first, fourth and fifth frames, while OSU posted runs in every inning except the first and sixth. Ole Miss led the game off with a bunt single to the shortstop, and ended up scoring on a RBI groundout from Strother, giving the Rebels an early 1-0 lead.
The Cowgirls tied it back up in their half of the second inning thanks to a solo home run, before extending their lead to 5-1 the next inning thanks to a two-run home run, and two doubles to left field that plated runs.
Ole Miss got right back within one in its next chance at the plate though, as Natalie Martinez roped a three-run home run well over the wall in left field scoring Miranda Strother and Courtney Syrett, who earlier reached on a fielder’s choice and single through the right side. The home run for Martinez was her third of the season, and the Rebels’ 14th of 2016.
Oklahoma State had an answer after the leadoff hitter hit a two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 7-4. The Rebels fought right back during their next chance at the plate, as Strother doubled off the wall in left-center field scoring Cox, before Martinez got an RBI off an infield single.
From there, the Cowgirls capped the scoring, taking a 9-6 lead thanks to another two-run home run off the bat of Darcy Taylor.
Cox, Hailey Lunderman, Strother and Martinez all finished with two hits apiece in the setback, while Martinez tied her season high with four RBI to lead the offense. The Rebels stole their 100th base of the season in the loss thanks to a swiped bag from Cox.
Madi Osias was handed the loss, just her third of 2016, after allowing five earned runs in 2.1 innings. Freshman Krista Jacobs worked the middle innings with four runs allowed of her own, while Kayla Landwehrmier worked the final 1.2 innings with just one hit allowed.
Game Two – Oklahoma State 8, Ole Miss 6
The Rebels posted a five-run third inning, but it wasn’t enough, as the Cowgirls scored five runs in the middle innings to sweep the doubleheader.
OSU got it started in the first inning thanks to a two-RBI single from Mikkelson, and another infield RBI single giving the Cowgirls an early 3-0 advantage.
Ole Miss got the bats going two innings later thanks to spotty pitching from the OSU staff, as Raven Campos and Bry Castro both collected RBI off a walk and hit by pitch, respectively. Haley Culley then broke the game wide open giving the Rebels a 5-3 advantage with a bases-clearing triple over the center fielder’s head, moving her to a tie for third all-time on the career triples list (six).
After the Cowgirls tied it up in their next chance, Strother again gave the Rebels a 6-5 lead off an RBI single up the middle, but it didn’t last after a two-run OSU fourth and an insurance run in the fifth.
Strother paved the way for the offense in game two, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Culley finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI off of a triple. Sophomore pitcher Elisha Jahnke was tagged with the loss after allowing six earned runs off eight hits and four walks in four innings, while Kayla Landwehrmier finished it out with one run allowed off one hit and a walk.
Next Up The Rebels return home to the Ole Miss Softball Complex Tuesday, March 29, for a 6 p.m. contest against Samford.
