Mississippi Errol Robinson (6) bunts during a game earlier this season. (File Photo)
It was a sloppy start, but a strong finish for the Rebels as they defeated Memphis 7-5 at Autozone Park in Memphis Tuesday night.
Memphis struck first after three base hits and two errors by the Rebels that gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead through one inning. Memphis added another on a solo home run in the second and quickly put Ole Miss in a 3-0 hole.
Sophomore left-hander Evan Anderson took the mound for Ole Miss. Anderson struggled early going 3.2 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits. The Memphis hitters appeared to be squaring up on Anderson’s fastball and having success with it.
Freshman right-hander Drake Robison came on in relief for Anderson and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief.
Ole Miss responded in the fifth inning after their shaky start. Sophomore third baseman Colby Bortles hit a two-out single that scored sophomore shortstop Errol Robinson to put the Rebels on the board. Senior first baseman Sikes Orvis followed Bortles with a two RBI double that tied the game at three in the fifth. Timely hitting has been a struggle for Ole Miss this season, but Bortles and Orvis helped pick up the slack as it was Bortles’ sixth and Orvis’ seventh two-out RBI on the year, which leads the team.
After Drake Robinson’s two scoreless innings, junior left-hander Matt Denny came on in the sixth and made quick work of the Memphis bats. Denny forced two strikeouts and a groundout to retire the Tigers in order.
The Rebels took control of the game in the top half of the seventh by putting another three runs on the board. The scoring got started after a failed pickoff attempt by Memphis, which plated freshman infielder Will Golsan. Golsan thrived yet again in the leadoff spot by tallying three hits and reaching base four times on the night.
Bortles continued his offensive success by ripping a double down the left field line that scored two more and increased the Ole Miss lead to 6-3. Bortles led the Rebels by tallying three hits and three RBI on the night.
Denny turned the ball over to senior right-hander Scott Weathersby in the bottom of the seventh who entered the game with a three-run lead. Memphis added a run in the seventh and another in the eighth closing the gap to 6-5. Sophomore left-hander Wyatt Short came on in relief for Weathersby and got the Rebels out of the jam in the eighth.
Sophomore outfielder J.B. Woodman gave the Rebels some breathing room in the ninth by belting a solo home run to left making it a 7-5 game. Woodman joined Golsan and Bortles with three hits in the game as well.
Short shut the door on the Tigers in the ninth and recorded his fourth save of the season, preserving the win for the Rebels.
With the win Ole Miss improved to 15-14 on the season. The Rebels return to action at home this Friday as they begin a three-game series with the Tennessee Volunteers. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
