OXFORD, Miss. – Searching for its first win over a ranked win this season, Iowa State (11-14, 1-2 Big 12) was unable to do so, as it fell to No. 22 Ole Miss (25-4, 2-1 SEC) twice in Sunday’s doubleheader to close the Rebel Invitational.
The Cyclones were unable to get out of their own way in game one, as a pair of errors resulted in four unearned runs for the Rebels, as Ole Miss walked away with a 9-0 run-rule victory in nine innings.
Game two was a much different story for the Cyclones, as ISU overcame a four-run deficit by scoring five unanswered runs to take a one-run lead in the sixth inning. Ole Miss however used its second three-run inning in the bottom of the sixth to regain control and pull away with an 8-6 win.
No. 22 Ole Miss 9, Iowa State 0 (6 Inn.)
Walks and errors spelled doom for the Cyclones in the opening game of the Sunday doubleheader, as ISU fell to its second ranked opponent of the season. No. 22 Ole Miss took a 9-0 win in six innings over the Cyclones, collecting nine hits and capitalizing on ISU mistakes – notching four unearned runs.
Just three Cyclones collected hits for ISU, as Angelina Allen, Sydney Malott and Sereniti Trice accounted for the knocks. All three hits were singles though, as the Cyclones were not able to get much going on the basepaths.
Lauren Schurman (4-8) got the start for the Cyclones, going 2.2 innings. A pair of ISU errors helped the Rebels plate six runs against Schurman – two of which were earned. Jaiden Ralston hurled the final 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits.
How it Happened
ISU got an early baserunner in the first inning, as Trice reached on an infield single but would be stranded as the inning flipped. In the bottom of the frame, an RBI single from the Rebels would plate a run as Ole Miss took a 1-0 lead.
ISU went three up, three down in the second before the Rebels added another run on another RBI single.
Ole Miss would capitalize on an ISU error in the third, plating four runs to extend its lead to 6-0.
The Cyclones collected their second and third hits in the fourth but would strand them both. Neither side would cross the plate in the fourth or the fifth, as Ole Miss took its 6-0 lead into the sixth.
In the sixth, a double and a walk put a pair on for the Rebels before Ailyah Binford walked into the box. Binford then took a 2-2 pitch deep over the left center field fence to end things and forced a run-rule win for Ole Miss.
Sunday G1 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Ole Miss: Ailyah Binford (4)
WP – Miali Guachino (11-4): 6.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Lauren Schurman (4-8): 2.2 IP, 6 hits, 6 runs (2 earned), 3 walks, 1 strikeout
No. 22 Ole Miss 8, Iowa State 6
A pair of three-run innings by No. 22 Ole Miss overcame a resilient Iowa State effort in game two of the doubleheader, as the Rebels earned a two-run win to close the tournament. ISU, who was down 5-1, battled all the way back as it scored five unanswered to take a 6-5 lead in the sixth inning.
After giving up four unearned runs and struggling to produce on offense, Iowa State bounced back in the second outing, scoring four runs and seeing a pair of Cyclones – Angelina Allen and Tatum Johnson – notch two hits. Johnson led the team with two RBI, while Sereniti Trice scored a squad-best two runs.
Abby Huhn earned the start for the Cyclones, as she was one of three ISU pitchers to see the circle. Huhn went for two innings, giving up four runs on six hits before being replaced by Jaiden Ralston. Ralston, making her second appearance on the day, hurled just one frame, allowing a run on a pair of hits. Lauren Schurman (4-9) was the pitcher of record, tossing the final three innings and allowing three runs on two hits.
How it Happened
Sereniti Trice was able to reach on an infield error before eventually moving to third on a groundout and a wild pitch. With two outs, Sydney Malott stepped into the box and drove a single to the shortstop, plating Trice and giving the Cyclones an early 1-0 lead.
Ole Miss was held scoreless in the first, but flipped the script in the second, plating two to take a 2-1 lead. A Lexie Brady solo shot and an Ashton Lansdell RBI single accounted for the two runs as the game moved to the third.
In the third inning, Ole Miss piled on three more runs thanks to another Binford homer, a two-run shot, and a Jaden Pone RBI triple.
Iowa State added a second run in the fourth, as Tatum Johnson led off the frame with a double into left center field. Hayleigh Oliver would enter to pinch run for Johnson and move over to third on a Paige Nakashima groundout. With Oliver on third, Tiana Poole grounded out to the second baseman, but it was deep enough for there not to be a play at the plate as Oliver came across and made it 5-2 in favor of Ole Miss.
After a scoreless bottom of the fourth for Ole Miss, the Cyclone offense came alive in the fifth, scoring three runs and tying things up at five-all. McKenna Andrews led the inning off with a single and later, Trice would draw a walk to put two on with one out. Angelina Allen plopped a single into center, scoring Andrews and putting both Trice and Allen on third and second (Allen advanced on the throw). With two outs and a 2-2 count, Tatum Johnson dug deep and found a perfect spot for a bloop single to score both Allen and Trice and tie things up.
Ole Miss was again held scoreless in the fifth, and in the sixth, ISU retook the lead as it scored its fifth-straight unanswered run. Tiana Poole led off the sixth with a double down the right field line and was then pinch ran for by Ireland Buss. Karlee Ford then laid down an excellent sac bunt and moved Buss to third. With one out, Andrews sent a shallow sac fly to left field, just deep enough for Buss to tag up and go home to give ISU a 6-5 lead.
The Rebels struck back emphatically in the bottom of the sixth, putting three on the board to retake the lead. Ole Miss would strike out three Cyclones in the seventh as ISU left two stranded and fell just short of a ranked, road win.
Sunday G2 Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Ole Miss: Lexie Brady (9), Ailyah Binford (5)
WP – Ailyah Binford (5-0): 6.0 IP, 7 hits, 6 runs (4 earned), 2 walks, 6 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Lauren Schurman (4-9): 3.0 IP, 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
On Deck
Iowa State will be back in action next weekend this coming Thursday, as it kicks off a three-game series against Big 12 foe UCF. The upcoming series will span Thurs.-Sat. and begins at 5 pm CT on Thursday in Orlando.