Rebels come out on top in a rain filled weekend in Kentucky

It was a wet weekend in Lexington, Kentucky, as the Rebels took on the Wildcats for the fourth weekend of SEC baseball. After having the opener rained out on Thursday, it was a doubleheader on a Friday and then a Saturday rubber match that had the start time changed on multiple occasions.

Through it all, we were given one of the season's best series, with two games going to extra innings and the other being decided in the 9th. The Ole Miss Rebels picked up the series win in a 12th-inning thriller on Saturday, improving to 24-7 overall and 8-4 in the SEC. It was a good series win that has put the Rebels into the upper echelon of the SEC conversation.

Friday Game 1 (10 Innings): Ole Miss 4 - Kentucky 5

Things did not get off to an excellent start for the Rebels. Ace Hunter Elliott was not very good on Friday, giving up four runs in his five innings. The most pressing concern was the lack of control. He was all over the place, hitting four batters and walking three others. The free passes were just an absolute killer for Elliott. He did what he always does, and that is battle, in the end, he gave them a shot at winning, but it was not a great outing. It's been a worrying trend with Hunter since the SEC play started, as he has not looked incredibly polished.

The Rebels would rally behind an incredible showing from Mason Morris out of the bullpen, who has been easily the best reliever for this team, as he went 4.1 in this one, only allowing two hits. Additionally, Luke Hill attempted to will the team to a win by himself, knocking in two runs on a single; he would hit a home run in the 7th to cut the lead to 1. Hayden Federico, who had a good weekend overall, would tie the game with a single in the 8th, and then the Rebels would get the go-ahead run to third in both the 9th and 10th innings. However, the Wildcats would walk off Brayden Jones in the bottom half of the 10th.

Friday Game 2: Ole Miss 3 - Kentucky 1

Game 2 of the doubleheader on Friday was a pitching showcase. The only offense in this one was a Burkes single in the 2nd inning to give Kentucky a 1-0 lead and a Federico Sac Fly to knot things up in the 4th. After that, it was all zeroes.

Rebels starter Riley Maddox was sensational in this one. It couldn't have been better for him or the team. I had expected big things from Maddox this year, but they haven't materialized. All of his SEC starts up to this point have primarily been disastrous, but he turned in his best start of the season in this one. He went five innings, allowed four hits and one run, and struck out 6.

Outside of Maddox, the Rebels got a perfect inning out of Ryne Rodriquez and then a perfect three innings from Will McCausland in his best outing since his debut. He struck out five and was lights out in route to picking up the win. The top of the 9th came with the score still locked at one and in step Campbell Smithwick.

Smithwick, the former highly touted recruit, has had a tough Sophmore campaign in which he was expected to take a step forward potentially. Things haven't worked out, and he finds himself as a reserve player. With Randle struggling at the plate, Bianco called Campbell's number in a big spot, and boy, did he deliver.

It was an incredible moment for him. While there still isn't a role for him to play full-time on this team, he still could play a vital role as a bench piece and bat.

Saturday : Ole Miss 5 - Kentucky 4

The rubber match had the first pitch time repeatedly change, first scheduled at 10; then at 12, it was 2. The game started sometime after 2:30, but the wait certainly did not disappoint. The Rebels had a tall order, as the Wildcats still had their ace in lefty Ben Cleaver. He was great in this one, only allowing three hits and one earned run in six innings. He also struck out eleven and walked none.

Issac Humphrey hit a sac fly in the second to score the Rebel's first run. The Wildcats would score one in the 2nd and the 3rd, and Humphrey would tie things at 2 with a solo shot in the 5th. After that, there were absolutely crickets on the offensive side.

It was a full-staff effort for the Rebs as they used eight pitchers in the 12-inning thriller. Starter Mason Nichols did his role, holding the Wildcats close for nearly four innings. Hudson Calhoun turned in a perfect inning and a third. It was then Walker Hooks's turn, as he would throw a big two innings of scoreless pitching.

This game also saw the return of Connor Spencer, who missed the Flordia series with shoulder tightness. Spencer was incredible in this one, not allowing a runner in two and 2/3 innings.

Hayden Federico would bring in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning via fielder choice. However, Brayden Jones, who was not significant in his two outings this weekend, could not pick up the save. A single with the bases loaded brought in the tying run, and it was an incredible throw from Mitchell Sanford that cut the potential winning run at home and kept the Rebs alive.

In the 12th inning, team leader Luke Hill had his first memorable moment of the year, which could be very big depending on where this team ends up. He would launch a two-run shot to the opposite field to give the Rebels a two-run lead.

Landon Waters, brought on to get out of the jam in the 11th inning, could not close things out in the 12th. Mangrum would turn to Alex Canney. The Senior got the job done in a prominent spot, clinching the win and series victory by one run.

The Rebels have a busy week. First, a road trip to Memphis to take on the Tigers on Tuesday and then to Swayze to take on Alcorn State on Wednesday. On deck, the former number 1 team, defending champs, and two former (now hated) Rebels will roll into Oxford. The Tennessee Volunteers, fresh off their first SEC series loss and now ranked #5 in the country, will take on the newly 6th-ranked Rebels. There is much more to come on what that series will look like soon.