Ole Miss falls short in 3-1 loss to Auburn; looks to rebound in Saturday doubleheader
Ole Miss faced Auburn at Plainsman Park Friday night and lost the opening game of the series, 3-1, following rain storms that delayed the first pitch by two hours. The threat of inclement weather is also forcing the teams to play a doubleheader Saturday, with the first game beginning at noon.
(Click here for Game 1 box score.)
The Rebels (19-19, 7-9 SEC) had been on a three-game winning streak before running into a tough Tiger team. Starter Christian Trent (5-4) went six innings, giving up nine hits, three runs (two earned) and four walks. The lefty from Madisonville, Louisiana struck out five hitters and got out of two bases-loaded jams, holding Auburn (24-15, 6-10 SEC) to only one run in the process.
Junior Mitchel Babb was on the mound for the final two innings for Ole Miss. The lefty held Auburn scoreless, increasing the bullpen’s streak of scoreless innings to 23.0.
Auburn got on the board with one run in the second inning and another in the third. In that third inning, Trent was faced with one of his bases-loaded situations. He almost emerged unscathed, but a Rebel error allowed a run to score, making it 2-0, Auburn. When faced with his second bases-loaded scenario in the fourth inning, Trent was able to get catcher Blake Logan to fly out, followed by a fielder’s choice from Jordan Ebert, where the Rebels got Anfernee Grier out at second.
The Rebels rallied in the eighth and ninth innings; however, they were only able to plate one run–giving Auburn the win in the first game of the series. Freshman Will Golsan went 3-for-4 on the night at the plate which ties his career-high for hits. Junior Connor Cloyd was 2-for-4 at the plate, giving him his fourth multi-hit game of this season. In the top of the ninth inning, sophomore Colby Bortles singled to center field, marking the 16th consecutive game in which he has reached base–a new season high. In that final inning, Henri Lartigue knocked in Colby Bortles to give the Rebels their only run of the game.
Saturday doubleheader
Ole Miss takes on Auburn Saturday in a double header that begins at noon. Both games will be nine-inning contests. The game can be heard on the Ole Miss Radio Network and seen on the SEC Network+.
(Feature image credit: Kenny Moss, Auburn Athletics.)
