HATTIESBURG, Miss. – What looked like it might be a pitching duel early changed quickly with a pair of big middle innings as No. 14 Ole Miss (35-18) fell to Southern Miss (27-23) on Tuesday night by a score of 10-3.
The Golden Eagles got four run innings in the fourth and the sixth to take the lead and the Rebels were unable to mount a rally as Southern Miss picked up the win.
Jacob Waguespack (0-1) took the loss in his first collegiate start, allowing two runs on four hits through 3.0 innings of work. The Rebels used four more pitchers on the night, all of whom surrendered two runs each in the loss.
A.J. Glasshof (1-2) picked up the win, working 6.0 scoreless innings and holding the Rebels to four hits with a walk and a strikeout.
“There’s not much that can be said after a performance like that,” said Ole Miss head coachMike Bianco. “We had a few opportunities early, but we didn’t capitalize on them. When that happens, you have to come back out and grind it out and hold the other team down. We didn’t do that tonight in any phase of the game.”
Ole Miss got the first chance to bring a man home, loading the bases in the second inning, but the Golden Eagles got the fly out with the bases loaded to end the Rebels scoring threat and keep a zero on the board.
Southern Miss got on the board first, converting on its first scoring opportunity in the fourth inning. Back-to-back singles opened the frame and had two men in scoring position out of the gates to start the rally. The Rebels then turned to the bullpen for left-hander Austin Blunt to try to minimize the inning.
A sacrifice fly from Mason Robbins put the Golden Eagles on the board, trading the run for the first out in the inning. Blunt struck out the next batter to put two away before a balk and a double down the right field line brought a second run home. Blake Brown then hit a two-run shot to left field to give the Golden Eagles the 4-0 lead before the Rebels would get out of the inning.
Ole Miss got a man in scoring position again in the fifth, but a double play ended the scoring threat and kept the Rebels off the board for the second time in the game.
Southern Miss built on the lead in the sixth inning with a two-out rally. With two men on, Austin Roussel hit ball to the gap at first. Sikes Orvis dove for the ball and made the stop, but the runner beat defenders to the bag safely in a close play and the lead runner on second came home to score. A walk loaded the bases and Ole Miss turned to the bullpen for the second time in the inning, calling on right-hander Josh Laxer.
The first pitch from the right-hander was wild, allowing all runners to advance as the Golden Eagles moved out to the 6-0 lead. A two-RBI single up the middle from Creel in the next at bat took the lead out to eight runs before Ole Miss would get the final out.
The Rebels cut into the lead in the eighth inning, pushing three runs home in the frame. A single and a hit batter put two on before Austin Anderson delivered an RBI double to right. With two runners in scoring position, pinch hitter Austin Knight got an RBI groundout to short before Sikes Orvis would come to the plate two batters later with the bases loaded and deliver a sac fly to center.
Ole Miss would get nothing more home in the inning, but cut the lead to 9-3.
Southern Miss got a run back in the bottom of the inning with a triple from Roussel followed by a wild pitch that brought him home.
Ole Miss will return to action on Thursday with the first game of a three-game series at No. 2 LSU. The opener will start at 6:30 p.m. and be televised by ESPNU.– Ole Miss Sports Information
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