Tiger Softball Team Drops Series Final to Ole Miss, 3-1
Box Score
March 21, 2004
Sara Ghezzi |
AUBURN - Ole Miss scored three runs in the sixth inning to upset 25th-ranked Auburn, 3-1, on Sunday at Jane B. Moore Field.
The Tigers had their 11-game winning streak snapped and fell to 23-4 overall and 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference. The Rebels improved to 8-19 and 3-3 in the league.
"We didn't play poorly," said Auburn head coach Tina Deese. "We just couldn't hit very well today. Overall, we had a good performance this weekend."
Mandy Ott laced a two-run double to right centerfield to plate DeDe Justice and Andrea Brahs for what proved to be the winning runs. Justice had walked before Brahs reached on an Kristen Keyes fielding error.
Brittany Warner struck out for what would have been the third out, however, the pitch got by catcher Sara Dean, which allowed Ott to score from third. Ott and Warner each had two hits as they provided the only offense for Ole Miss.
Ole Miss' three runs were the first given up by Auburn in an SEC-record 52.2 innings. It was the first time the Rebels scored against the Tigers since 2000.
Ashley Griffin crushed a one-out home run to right field in the bottom of the sixth, but that was all the Tigers would put on the board. Griffin, who homered for the third time this year, and Sara Ghezzi had the lone two hits of the afternoon for Auburn.
Mary Jane Callahan went the distance for the Rebels and improved to 7-8. She struck out eight and walked one on the afternoon.
Keyes took the loss for Auburn to drop to 11-4. She had her 41.1 inning scoreless streak snapped on Ott's double. She went 5.1 innings and gave up three runs * one earned * on four hits while striking out six and walking one. Entering the game, Keyes had not allowed a hit in her previous two home games.
The losses come a day after Auburn threw back-to-back no-hitters against the Rebels.
Auburn will return to action on Saturday when it travels to Colombia, S.C., to face 15th-ranked South Carolina in a doubleheader.