Ole Miss shortstop Cassie Reasner celebrates her home run on Saturday.
Aggressiveness of foolishness on base paths was the final stake in the heart of the Ole Miss Rebels, versus Texas A&M on Saturday. The end result was a 7-5 victory for Texas A&M and the clinching win in the three-game series.
With two outs and the tying runs on second and third base in the bottom of the seventh, Ole Miss pinch runner Izzy Rettiger was gunned down by A&M catcher Ariel Kowalewski for the game’s final out. Kowalewski, who had to notice Rettiger was miles off the base n the previous pitch, gunned a strke down to second baseman Tallen Edwards to end the game.
Rettiger being picked off second base effectively took the bat out Rachel Conners hands, who represented the winning run.
The play was bang-bang, but a video review was ordered by the umpires, as Ole Miss was out of challenges. Video evidence showed Rettiger out by a fraction of a second.
The loss dropped Ole Miss to 26-17 overall, but more importantly sank the Rebels to 2012 in the SEC. Texas A&M improved to 29-12 and to 10-4 inside the league.
The two teams were tied 1-1 heading into the top of the third before the Aggies struck for four rans to take a 5-1 lead.
A Kennedy Bunker solo home run to left-center in the bottom of the third pulled the Rebels within 5-2.
Ole Miss would tie the game 5-5 in the fourth off an RBI-double from second baseman Mackenzie Pickens and a two-run homer from first baseman Persy Llamas.
Texas A&M scored twice in the top of the sixth to make for the 7-5 final when a a two-run error was charged to Ole Miss shortstop Cassie Reasner. Ole Miss argued there was runner’s interference on the play to no avail.
Emilee Boyer (8-9) took the loss for the Rebels in a complete-game performance. Boyer struck out struck out nine but struggled with control at time, as she walked seven.
Reasner led Ole Miss at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run. Llamas turned in a 2-for-4 effort with a homer and two RBIs.
NEXT UP
Ole Miss desperately needs to avoid the sweep when the two teams meet again at 1 p.m. CT Sunday/ The game can be watched on the SEC Network+.