Ole Miss drops game one of series to Alabama, 7-4, at Swayze
OXFORD, Miss. — Friday night at Swayze Field, Ole Miss hosted Alabama in game one of the three-game series. The Rebels have won four consecutive series versus the Crimson Tide, but after a 7-4 loss in game one Ole Miss will need to win the next two to keep the streak alive.
Alabama’s Jim Jarvis led off the game by getting a hit on Hunter Elliott’s first pitch of the day. Elliott would hit the next batter, Tommy Seidl, putting runners at first and second with no outs. After striking out William Hamiter, Elliott hit Zane Denton which would load the bases for the Crimson Tide.
Elliot rebounded as he got Drew Williamson to ground out to first base; however, Jarvis scored to give the CrimsonTide a 1-0 lead. Elliott struck out Andrew Pickney to end the top of the first.
Justin Bench led off the bottom of the first with a ground ball to third base that was mishandled, allowing him to reach first base safely.
Calvin Harris and Jacob Gonzalez then both reached on walks. Tim Elko, with the base loaded, lined a single out to right field that would score Bench and Harris, putting the Rebs ahead by a score of 2-1 after the one inning.
Rebs strike right back!
4 batters in and still no outs on the board! pic.twitter.com/jtNLvbkLHm
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 8, 2022
In the top of the third, Jarvis led off the inning with a single through the left side. Seidl then reached via a walk. Jarvis and Seidl advanced up a base on a ground ball to first. Then, with two out and runners on second and third, Williamson cleared the bases with a double that put the Crimson Tide in front, 3-2.
Dylan DeLucia took over for Hunter Elliott to start the top of the fourth.
Bryce Eblin doubled to left field to lead off the inning. He would then advance to third on a groundout to shortstop and later come around to score on a ground ball to second base.
After an Alabama walk and single, Hamiter singled to center field scoring another run that would give Alabama a 5-2 lead.
Alabama’s Williamson led off the top of the fifth with a walk, followed by a Pickney single advancing Williamson to third.
Williamson then scored on a ground out to shortstop. Next, Pickney would score on a single from Dominic Tamez, extending the Bama lead to 7-2.
Each side was held scoreless until the bottom of the ninth when Kevin Graham, in his first game back from injury, sent a home run over the fence in right field, cutting the Alabama lead to 7-4.
Welcome back, kid.@kevgraham11 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/MJ5TEVen8O
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 9, 2022
Graham’s home run would not be enough as Alabama held on to their 7-4 lead to take game one.
On the mound
Starter Hunter Elliott records the loss, allowing three runs in three innings. Josh Mallitz threw four scoreless innings in relief, striking out seven, both career highs.
Next Up:
Ole Miss and Alabama will play game two Saturday at Swayze with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m.
Nick Filipich
Nick Filipich was born and raised in Biloxi, MS. He is an Ole Miss alum with a degree in Sports and Recreation Administration. A sports junkie with a great passion for all things Ole Miss, Nick played baseball and football in high school — which is where he discovered his love for sports. He is an avid Braves and Saints fan, and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, friends and his black lab, Dixie.
