Rebels fall 9-2 at Kentucky; Rubber Game set for Sunday at Noon
Lexington, Ky. – Following a 2-1 victory over Kentucky Friday night, Ole Miss looked to take the series Saturday against the SEC East Wildcats. While the Rebels staked Hunter Elliott to a first-inning, two-run lead, Kentucky scored the final nine runs en route to a 9-2 win that forces a deciding game three.
Elliott earned his first SEC start Saturday but would not factor into the decision. The freshman from Tupelo recorded four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings and allowed just two runs, neither of which were earned.
“I didn’t have my best command today, but went out there and competed,” Elliott said after the game. At one point, he retired seven straight.
“He competed real hard, which we knew he would do,” said head coach Mike Bianco of his freshman pitcher.
The Ole Miss bullpen let things get away from them to an extent. Over the course of three different Rebel relievers and 3 2/3 innings, Kentucky scored seven earned runs on eight hits.
Offensively, the Rebs scored early — but unfortunately not often. All-American shortstop Jacob Gonzalez led off the game with a single and Justin Bench reached via hit by pitch, his team-leading sixth of the year. A Tim Elko single drove in Gonzalez to give Ole Miss the 1-0 lead.
New day, same result. Elko gets the Rebs on the board in the 1st! pic.twitter.com/38RSjfocBT
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 2, 2022
After a one-out walk to Calvin Harris, T.J. McCants scored Bench on a sac fly to center field that gave the Rebels a 2-0 advantage.
Outside of the two hits in the first inning, Rebel batters were held to a lone hit by Kemp Alderman, a double in the seventh, to finish with three total hits.
Next Up for Ole Miss
The Rebels face Kentucky in a series-clinching finale Sunday at noon. Ole Miss announced after the game that Jack Washburn (3-1, 3.09 ERA, 27 strikeouts, 13 walks) would go for the Rebs Sunday, and Kentucky will throw left Hander Tyler Bosma (3-1, 3.04 ERA, 26 strikeouts, 6 walks).
Hotty Toddy!
(Feature image credit: Ole Miss Baseball)
Chris Muller
Chris is our Director of Baseball Content and Senior Baseball Writer. Muller is a 1995 Graduate of Ole Miss. He is a collegiate recreational sports professional currently residing in Arlington Texas with his wife of 25 years, Amber, and German Shorthaired Pointer, Sophie. Chris is an avid Ole Miss Baseball and Football fan. His hobbies include watching college football and baseball and playing poker with his friends.
