Holt Perdzock reacts during Saturday’s game against Kentucky. / Austin McAfee
BY JOHN LUKE MCCORD
mccordjohnluke@yahoo.com
FRIDAY: NO. 21 OLE MISS 11, KENTUCKY 5
After dropping game one of a three-game Southeastern Conference (SEC) series against Kentucky Thursday night, the Ole Miss offense pounded out 13 hits and scored 11 runs to even the series, 11-5.
“Proud of the way we swung the bats tonight, especially after (Thursday),” head coach Mike Bianco said. “Just a good night one through nine.”
The Rebels (31-13, 11-9 SEC) jumped in front early, plating four runs, but an error-filled second inning allowed the Wildcats (25-17, 8-12 SEC) to score three runs.
From there, it was all Ole Miss, as the bats continued to keep pressure on the Kentucky defense and junior right-hander Mike Mayers sat down the Wildcats inning after inning. Mayers went six innings, giving up just one earned run on one hit and three walks, while striking out eight hitters to improve his record to 3-4 on the year.
“It was nice to pitch with a lead from the beginning,” Mayers said. “Coach told me to challenge them with my fastball, pitching with the lead. I think that changed my mentality.”
Offensively, Ole Miss was led by senior third baseman Andrew Mistone, who went 3-for-4 with five RBIs. Mistone ended the game a home run away from the cycle.
The Rebels scored two runs in the third and fifth innings and three more in the sixth. Kentucky added two late runs in the eighth against sophomore right-hander Chris Ellis.
SATURDAY: KENTUCKY 5, NO. 21 OLE MISS 4
In Saturday’s rubber match of the three-game series, No. 21 Ole Miss was unable to hold a lead, as Kentucky rallied, scoring three runs in the final three frames to take the series with a 5-4 win.
The Rebels (31-14, 11-10 SEC) were trailing 5-3 heading to the ninth and their comeback came up short, stranding the tying run on second base.
“Disappointing day in a lot of phases,” Bianco said. “When you look back at a weekend with two one-run losses in games we had leads in both games. We’ve been good in the bullpen all year long, and we weren’t today.”
Ole Miss jumped in front for the second straight day, scoring a run in the first, but Kentucky (26-17, 9-12 SEC) answered back in the second with a run of its own before taking a 2-1 lead in the fourth.
Junior shortstop Austin Anderson gave Ole Miss the lead in the fifth with a two-run home run to left field, his second home run of the season. Anderson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs on the day.
The Wildcats tied the game in the seventh with a solo home run off junior right-hander Aaron Greenwood. Freshman left-hander Matt Denny came in to relieve Greenwood and limited the damage in the seventh, but after giving up a leadoff single and committing a throwing error in the eighth, Bianco put in senior right-hander Tanner Bailey to try to end the threat.
Kentucky elected to bunt the runners into scoring position, and Bailey used his aggressive instincts to try to get the lead runner out at third. However, an errant throw scored a run, giving the Wildcats the lead. Kentucky scored one more in the frame to take a 5-3 lead.
“Probably should have taken the out,” Bianco said. “With so many guys yelling ‘three’ and so much emotion, you want to get the lead guy, but the bunt was good enough to where we should have just got the one out.”
Ole Miss needed two runs in the ninth to extend the game to extra innings, and junior catcher Stuart Turner began the frame with a single to right. Freshman Holt Perdzock came in off the bench and delivered a one-out double to put runners on second and third. Sophomore Sikes Orvis then came off the bench and brought in one run on a fly ball to the warning track before junior designated hitter Will Allen struck out looking to end the game.
The Rebels will return to action Wednesday night against St. Louis before facing Auburn on the road in a three-game set next weekend.
