Ole Miss drops game three to Alabama, 7-3, as Tide sweeps the Rebels
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss hosted Alabama in game three of the series Sunday at Swayze. After losing the first two games, the Rebels hoped to finish on a high note. But despite home runs from Tim Elko and Kemp Alderman, Ole Miss fell, 7-3, giving the Tide the sweep.
“The two things that I said to them was number one, you have to compete like the last two days. It wasn’t that we didn’t compete, we just didn’t play well enough to win. We have to play with that kind of energy and that kind of heart every single day because that’s the one thing that can control. The other part of it is that you have to play well enough in this league. I’ve always said it, when people ask me why the SEC is the best baseball conference, this is not demeaning to Alabama or any of the 14 teams: they’re all good. They’re all good enough to beat you if you don’t play well. When you get in the kind of funk we have, when you don’t play well and put it all together in all three phases, you lose baseball games, especially if the other team plays well.“
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco
Ole Miss pitcher Jack Washburn started the game off by issuing a walk to Alabama leadoff hitter Jim Jarvis, but he bounced back to get the second batter of the inning to fly out to right field.
Jarvis would steal second before advanced to third on a wild pitch. Washburn would get the second out of the inning via strike out, but Zane Denton then came up with a two-out RBI double to left center field, scoring Jarvis from third and giving Alabama an early 1-0 lead.
A hit by pitch and a walk would load the bases for Bryce Eblin who flied out to left field for the third out of the inning.
In the top of the third Jack Washburn would get two quick outs before giving up a double to Andrew Pinkney. Washburn then hit Eblin, putting runners on first and second. Dominic Tamez would then double down the left field line. The bases-clearing double scored extended the Crimson Tide lead to 3-0.
Derek Diamond came in to relieve Washburn after Alabama’s leadoff hitter reached on a single in the top of the fourth. Diamond got out of the inning without allowing any additional baserunners.
Diamond, who pitched 4.1 innings and gave up two hits and two runs, walked no one and struck out five. After the game Bianco talked about his pitcher’s performance.
“He was terrific. He really was, and it’s really a shame that it went down like that. One (hit) was a big mistake by me. We just called a slider into the strike zone and we didn’t think Seidl would swing and boy did he. The other one was probably not the best pitch. One mistake, but besides that, he was lights out. If you want to look at silver linings, that’s one of them today. He was really good, I thought the stuff was ticked up.”
Coach Bianco on Derek Diamond’s outing
The score would stay at 3-0 until the bottom of the sixth. Justin Bench would reach base on a hit by pitch with two outs, bringing Tim Elko to the plate.
Elko promptly mashed a ball deep over the left field wall, cutting the Alabama lead to one, 3-2.
TO THE MOON 🚀🌕@TimElko | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/uEcTSWYWFW
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 10, 2022
Alabama got a run back in the top of the seventh on a solo home run from Tommy Seidl that gave the Tide a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Kemp Alderman brought the game back within one on a monster 48-ft solo home run into the parking lot beyond the left field fence. The Tide’s lead was cut to 4-3.
An absolutely CRUSHED solo home run from @KempAlderman brings the REBS back within 1 in the bottom of the 7th!!! It came off the bat at 112 mph and traveled 481 feet!!! pic.twitter.com/0HjOn5jnCI
— Ole Miss BSB Analytics (@OMBSBAnalytics) April 10, 2022
In the top of the eighth, however, Pinckney hit a solo homer to right field to give Alabama a 5-3 lead.
In the top of the ninth, Zane Denton added two more to the Alabama lead with a two-run home run to center field. The Crimson Tide led 7-3 which would be the final score.
Tim Elko led off the home half of the ninth with an infield single and would be advanced to second base by Kevin Graham on a ground ball to first baae. Kemp Alderman struck out for the second out of the frame. A strikeout by pinch-hitter Calvin Harris would end the game.
Next Up:
Ole Miss will look to move on in Tuesday’s matchup with Murray State. It’ll be Kids Day at Swayze Field, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. CT. The game can be watched through SEC Network + or listened to via the Ole Miss Radio Network.
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
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.
