Ole Miss Downed By Louisiana Tech in Series Opener, 6-5

OXFORD, Miss. – (Release) Ole Miss had 13 hits but left 13 runners on base as the Rebels lost 6-5 to Louisiana Tech in the first of a two-game set Tuesday at Swayze Field. Wednesday’s game has been moved up to 3 p.m. to try to avoid inclement weather.

The Rebels (6-2) had opportunities to score more runs but couldn’t push them across. Jacob Gonzalez led the way on offense for Ole Miss with a walk and four hits. Ethan Groff had a triple and two RBI, and Anthony Calarco was 3-for-5 with an RBI.

The Bulldogs (5-3) only had eight hits, but they were timely, leaving just five runners stranded. Five Rebel pitchers kept the game close to give the Ole Miss hitters a chance.

Ole Miss scored one run in each of the first four innings. In the first, after starter JT Quinn’s three-up, three down inning, Ole Miss got a run thanks to the triple to the left field corner by Groff that scored Jacob Gonzalez who had singled.

In the Rebel second, the bases were loaded when Groff was hit by a pitch that scored Tywone Malone who had reached on a walk.

In the Ole Miss third, Kemp Alderman singled up the middle, then later stole second. Calarco got a base hit up the middle to score Alderman.

In the fourth the Rebels scored again, this time on a Calvin Harris single which got Groff home after he had walked and moved to second on an error.

The Bulldogs did most of their damage in a big fifth inning, scoring five runs. With one out, Jorge Corona walked, then moved to second on a wild pitch. After Adarius Myers walked, Jonathan Hogart singled to load the bases.

A Will Safford double scored two runs to cut the Ole Miss lead to 4-2. Mason Morris replaced Quinn and got the second out of the inning before a Brody Drost three-RBI home run gave the visitors a 5-4 lead.

In the sixth, the Rebels tied the game 5-5 on a TJ McCants single that scored Harris who had gotten aboard on a walk.

In the seventh, Louisiana Tech retook the lead on a single to left by Dalton Davis. That got Logan McLeod home after he had reached with a single.

In the top of the ninth, with the Bulldogs up a run, Mason Nichols entered for Cole Ketchum with two outs and got the final out to give the Rebels an opportunity. In the bottom of the ninth, after McCants walked, Will Furniss hit into a double play. Peyton Chatagnier struck out, and the game was over.

The third Rebel pitcher on the day, Jackson Kimbrell (0-1), got the loss, while Landon Tomkins (2-0), the fourth pitcher for Louisiana Tech, got the win.

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics)