Rebels drop game two to State, 10-7; Bulldogs even the series
OXFORD, Miss. — After the Rebels’ 4-2 win over State Thursday night, Ole Miss looked to take the series from the Bulldogs on Friday. However, even an early barrage of Rebel home runs in the second game wasn’t enough to clinch it for Ole Miss as MSU battled back to win, 10-7.
The series is now tied and the rubber game is set for 3:30 Saturday.
Hunter Elliot started Friday’s game by striking out the first two batters he faced. But State’s Luke Hancock then drilled a 3-2 pitch for a solo home run that put the Bulldogs up 1-0.
Elliot ended the top of the first by notching his third strikeout of the inning.
Ole Miss did not wait long to answer. Leadoff hitter Justin Bench sent the first pitch he saw into the left field bullpen to tie the game, 1-1.
Hold up, we've got a little catching up to do. pic.twitter.com/YDn2t6KvS6
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 22, 2022
Jacob Gonzalez then hit a solo home run of his own to give the Rebels a 2-1 lead.
🎶 Back-to-back like we're Jordan 96/97 🎶 pic.twitter.com/rBrj14zniQ
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 22, 2022
Tim Elko would add another run with the Rebels’ third straight home run of the inning, growing their lead to 3-1.
4 pitches, 3 bombs. Is that good?!?! pic.twitter.com/ASAlORiraR
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 22, 2022
Peyton Chatagnier led off the bottom of the second with a solo home run that stretched the Ole Miss lead to 4-1.
Slow down guys, we're running out of HR captions!@peytonchat5 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/ba1R945DQu
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 23, 2022
In the top of the third, Mississippi State threatened but Elliot was able to wiggle his way out of the inning unscathed. The Bulldogs had bases loaded with one out, but Elliot struck out the last two batters, leaving three Bulldogs stranded.
Riley Maddox came on in relief of Elliot to start the fifth inning. The Bulldogs would threaten again with runners on first and second with one out. Maddox got the second out via strike out, and Hayden Dunhurst got the third out by picking off the runner on first base.
Gonna have to be quicker than that. pic.twitter.com/9EUX5Hq7s2
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 23, 2022
MSU’s Brad Cumbest led off the top of the sixth with a double down the left field line.
With a runner on second and one out, Jess Davis hit a ground-rule double that bounced over the wall in foul territory in left field. Ole Miss still held the lead, 4-2. But with two outs and a runner on second, RJ Yeager would soon bring the game within one, 4-3, on a single up the middle.
Logan Tanner led off the top of the seventh for the Bulldogs with a single to left field and later scored on a home run from Hunter Hines which gave MSU a 5-4 lead.
Cumbest then singled through the left side and came around to score on a home run from Kellum Clark, making it 7-4 Bulldogs.
Mississippi State would score three more runs in the top of the eighth on three hits and no errors.
The Rebels fought back in the bottom of the frame.
Hayden Leatherwood was hit by pitch with one out in the bottom of the eighth. He advanced to second on a wild pitch before Bench advanced him to third on a single through the right side.
Gonzalez then singled through the right side, scoring Leatherwood. With runners on first and third, Kemp Alderman cleared the bases with a double to left field, cutting the MSU lead to 10-7.
After holding State scoreless in the top of the ninth, the Rebels had one final shot. TJ McCants led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk.
The next batter, Hayden Dunhurst, drove a pitch into right center field but it wouldn’t be quite enough as it was caught just shy of the warning track.
With two outs and McCants still at first, Leatherwood singled through the left side. That would bring Bench to the plate with runners on first and second with two outs. He hit a ground ball to third base that was fielded for a force out at third base, and State clinched the game-two win, 10-7.
Next Up:
The Rebels and Bulldogs face off in the rubber game of the series at 3:30 p.m. at Swayze. It will be televised on ESPN2.
(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.
