Ole Miss Baseball: No.4 Rebels Fall To No.5 Arkansas In Game One

Omaha, NE - JUNE 26: Baseball fans gather outside TD Ameritrade Park prior to game one of the College World Series Championship Series, between the LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators on June 26, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 26: Baseball fans gather outside TD Ameritrade Park prior to game one of the College World Series Championship Series, between the LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators on June 26, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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In what could easily be the series which could decide the SEC West, No.5 Ole Miss baseball faced No.5 Arkansas in game-one Thursday night.

Ole Miss baseball (23-4, 4-3) was coming off a thrilling win over instate rival No.14 Southern Miss. The win was the 3rd win out of games which began in College Station against No.17 Texas A&M. This series with No.5 Arkansas (19-7, 5-2) marks seven consecutive games the Rebels would have to face a ranked team. Of course, the Rebels and Arkansas were tied in the SEC West coming into game-one and this series will determine who leads. Arkansas is a very good ball team and the Rebels had their hands full right off the bat.

Arkansas jumped on the board first with 2 runs and carried the 2-0 lead into the top of the 2nd. The Hogs then added 2 more runs to extend the lead to 4-0 entering the bottom of the frame. The Rebels answered with 1 run in the bottom of the 3rd to cut the Hogs lead to 4-1. Ole Miss then added 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th to bring the game to a 4-4 tie. After two scoreless frames the Hogs added 2 more runs in the top of the 6th to take the 6-4 lead. The Rebels who have had 10 come-from-behind wins this season couldn’t produce any more runs and the Razorbacks took the 6-4 win.

The loss was only the 4th for Ole Miss baseball in the 2018 season and was an eye-opener for both clubs. It’s easy to see these are the two best teams in the SEC West for a reason and it was illustrated last night. The loss pushed Ole Miss into the second place spot the SEC West and now they are one game down in the series. For now we look at last nights game.

By The Numbers

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On the mound sophomore left-hander Ryan Rolison (3-3, 3.63) took his regular game-one place on the mound. Rolison went for 5.1 innings and allowed 5 earned runs on 9 hits. Rolison had 8 Ks and 1 BB.

Mike Bianco made the call in the 6th and sophomore right-hander Will Ethridge (1-0, 1.86, 2 svs) took the hill. Ethridge went for 2.2 innings and allowed 1 earned run on 5 hits. Ethridge had 3 Ks. Sophomore right-hander Greer Holston (1-0, 3.21) finished out the game on the rubber in the 9th. Holston allowed no hits.

At The Plate

In game-one 6 Rebels combined for 8 hits against very good Hogs pitching. Two Rebels had multiple hit games. Leading all Rebels was sophomore Cole Zabowski (.309, 6 HR) who went 2 for 3 (HR) at the plate. Zabowski had 2 RBI. Junior Ryan Olenek (.337, 1 HR) went 2 for 4 and had 1 RBI. Freshman Tyler Keenan (.300, 2 HR) and junior Jacob Adams (.333, 2 HR) both went 1 for 3 on the night. Senior Will Golsan (.240) and Chase Cockrell (.410, 3 HR) both went 1 for 4 at the plate.

Next: Season Predictions!

Up Next

No.4 Ole Miss baseball will be back in action Friday night as they attempt to even the series against No.5 Arkansas. First pitch is set for 6:30pm CT from Swayze Field in Oxford. Good luck to coach Mike Bianco and the Rebels. BEAT THE HOGS! Hotty Toddy!