Game 1 – Ole Miss 10, Tennessee 7
The Rebels continued their recent offensive success as they topped Tennessee in game one of a three-game series Friday by a score of 10-7.
The Rebels scored 10 runs on 13 hits Friday and were led by freshman infielder Will Golsan, who continued to thrive in the leadoff spot for the Rebels. Golsan tied his career-high in hits with three, for the second consecutive game. He also added a career-best four RBIs on the night.
“He’s been swinging it well for us at the top of the lineup, and he’s had some big hits,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said of Golsan. “It’s not just getting on base, but he’s coming through with some RBIs. He was huge tonight.
Junior left-hander Christian Trent got the win Friday for the Rebels. Trent went six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits. After a slow start that saw the Volunteers jump out to a 3-0 lead through two innings, Trent settled down and went deep into the game.
Ole Miss benefitted from five different players having multi-hit games on Friday. Golsan, sophomore center fielder J.B. Woodman, senior first baseman Sikes Orvis, sophomore third baseman Colby Bortles and junior designated hitter Connor Cloyd all recorded multi-hit games on the night. It was Cloyd’s first career multi-hit game.
Ole Miss has struggled this year with timely hits but seemed to turn it around on Friday. The Rebels went 6-for-14 with two outs, 7-for-20 with runners on base and 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position, including an RBI double from Cloyd that opened up the scoring.
“A lot of times we don’t get that timely hit, but it was a huge double for Cloyd,” Bianco said. “We only get one run out of it, but it flipped the lineup over and gave Golson a shot, and he did a great job, hitting a ball well to right-center and we’re back in the game.”
Tennessee made a comeback attempt in the ninth as the first five batters reached base and the Volunteers closed the gap to 10-6. Sophomore left-hander Wyatt Short came on in relief and worked the Rebels out of a bases-loaded jam, securing the win.
“That’s why you have him,” Bianco said of Short. “He’s a guy you can bring in with the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate. He gets a big strikeout and a couple of ground balls. He’s been huge for us.”
Ole Miss improved to 16-14 and 5-5 in conference play with the win.
Game 2 – Tennessee 6, Ole Miss 3
Ole Miss dropped game two of the three-game series with Tennessee by a score of 6-3.
Ole Miss saw themselves fall into an early 3-0 hole for a third consecutive game as the Volunteers scored in three of the first four innings, jumping out to an early lead.
It was an uncharacteristic performance from the Rebels Saturday starter, sophomore right-hander Brady Bramlett. Bramlett allowed four runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings of work.
Ole Miss got on the board in the fourth after an RBI single by junior designated hitter Conner Cloyd that scored junior right-fielder Cameron Dishon. Cloyd went 2-for-4 on the day and recorded his second consecutive multi-hit game.
Tennessee answered with a solo home run in the fifth, making the score 4-1.
The Volunteers extended their lead to 6-1 in the sixth after a throwing error allowed two runs to score for Tennessee.
It was one of three Ole Miss errors on the day as errors proved to be costly for the Rebels yet again this season. Tennessee was able to get three unearned runs across in the game, and it proved to be the difference.
Ole Miss got the run back with an RBI single by freshman infielder Will Golsan in the bottom of the seventh.
Junior left-hander Mitchel Babb came on in relief in the sixth and had the best outing of his Ole Miss career. Babb pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in relief and struck out four Volunteer batters.
Babb kept the Rebels within striking distance as they trailed 6-2 heading into the ninth. Sophomore shortstop Errol Robinson led off with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch. Robinson’s run closed the gap to 6-3, but Tennessee held strong after that and allowed no further damage to end the game.
With the loss, Ole Miss fell to 16-15 (5-6) on the year.
Game 3 – Tennessee 4, Ole Miss 2
Ole Miss’ offensive struggles returned Sunday as the Rebels fell to the Tennessee Volunteers 4-2, dropping the series 2-1.
The Rebels were only able to muster two runs on four hits against Tennessee starter Drake Owenby. Owenby had a strong outing for the Volunteers as he pitched eight innings on his way to earning the win.
Yet again, Ole Miss fell behind 3-0 early as the Volunteers tallied one run in the first and two more in the second.
Freshman right-hander Will Stokes took the mound in game three of the series for the third consecutive week. Stokes, yet again, improved on his previous outing as he went a career long 5.1 innings allowing four runs, only two of them earned on four hits.
“It was nice to get an extended outing from him,” head coach Mike Bianco said. “He’s terrific. We need to help him a little bit. We need to give him some run support and catch some balls for him.”
Like Saturday, shaky defense was the story again Sunday. Two Ole Miss errors allowed Tennessee to score two unearned runs that proved to be costly.
Ole Miss responded by getting on the board in the third after a two-out RBI single by freshman infielder Will Golsan plated freshman left fielder Kyle Watson, making it a 3-1 game.
Tennessee answered with a run in sixth after an RBI single to right just fell under the glove of Cameron Dishon.
Ole Miss threatened in the seventh as they loaded the bases with no one out but could only push across one run on an RBI groundout first baseman Sikes Orvis.
The Rebels brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth, trailing 4-2 after freshman designated hitter Tate Blackman reached on an error but failed to do any damage.
Tennessee forced the Rebels to go down in order in the 9th and secured the series win.
With the loss, Ole Miss dropped its second consecutive SEC series and fell to 16-16 overall and 5-7 in SEC play. The Rebels return to action Tuesday against Southern Miss at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
Brian Scott Rippee
bsrippee@go.olemiss.edu
