OXFORD, Miss. (3/19/14) – The Arkansas State baseball got the go-ahead run to the plate in the top of the ninth, but couldn't score as the Red Wolves fell to No. 14 Ole Miss 4-3 Wednesday night at Oxford University Stadium/Swayze Field.
Ty Michelotti pinch-hit for Dustin Jones and legged out an infield single to shortstop with one out to give the go-ahead run, Zach Maggio, a chance to hit, but after several throws to first, Ole Miss (18-4) reliever Josh Laxer caught Michelotti leaning for the second out of the inning. Maggio flew out to right field to end the game and give Ole Miss a 4-3 win.
The Red Wolves (11-9) led 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but after an infield single, bunt, and single the Rebels plated the tying run. After another single to left field put runners on the corners with one out, A-State made a pitching change to Cody Woodhouse. On the first pitch from Woodhouse, Braxton Lee plated the winning run with a squeeze bunt. Woodhouse struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Colton Kibler took the loss for the Red Wolves after giving up two runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. A-State starter Tanner Gaines was solid and gave up two runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 5+ innings of work. Scott Weathersby earned the win for the Rebels by pitching 2 1/3 innings allowing no runs, no hits, and striking out five.
Offensively, Maggio and Stuart Levy each recorded two hits and scored one run, while Lucas Feddersen and Kevin Fitzpatrick each had one hit and drove in a run. As a team, Arkansas State outhit the Rebels 8-7.
Ole Miss got things started in the bottom of the first with a one-out single and walk put runners on first and second. A fly out to right field advanced Lee from second to third to put runners on the corners with two outs. The Rebels intentionally got in a rundown and Lee was able to slide in safely before the throw to give Ole Miss a 1-0 lead.
A-State had consecutive walks from Jones and Maggio to put runners on first and second with one out in the top of the third and Jones advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher trying to pick him off of second. Feddersen hit an infield single to shortstop to plate Jones and tie the game at 1-1. Maggio and Feddersen stole second and third with two outs, but Matt Burgess grounded out to first to end the inning.
Levy led off the top of the fourth inning with a single through the left side and advanced to third base with two outs after two groundouts by the Red Wolves. Fitzpatrick stepped up to the plate and laced an RBI single to left field to score Levy for a 2-1 A-State lead and chase Ole Miss starter Jeremy Massie. After the pitching change, Jones grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Maggio led off the top of the fifth with a single and advanced to second on a groundout to short. After a Baker strikeout, Maggio scored on a wild pitch from second base to give A-State a 3-1 lead after Ole Miss catcher Will Allen couldn't find the ball after it bounded away from him. The Red Wolves loaded the bases, but the Rebels limited the damage with a strikeout to end the inning.
The Rebels led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk and single to chase A-State's starter Tanner Gaines. The Red Wolves brought in Kibler to relieve Gaines and he gave up a single that went off of Jones's glove at shortstop brought home one run to cut Arkansas State's lead to 3-2. After the run Kibler limited the damage by getting a pop up in foul territory and a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Arkansas State returns to action Friday, March 21 for its second Sun Belt Conference series of the season against UT Arlington. First pitch from Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington, Texas is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
