Rebels Fall to Arkansas in Game One of Series

Photo courtesy Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics

The Ole Miss baseball team kicked off a SEC weekend series one day early Thursday night, but the Rebels were on the losing end of a 10-3 contest against Arkansas, March 26.

Sophomore Errol Robinson recorded his second multi-hit game in the past three games and fifth of the season, going 2-for-4 with one RBI for the Rebels (13-13, 3-4 SEC). Seniors Austin Knight and Sikes Orvis knocked in the other Rebel runs.

Junior southpaw Christian Trent (4-2) suffered just the second loss of his career, allowing five runs on 11 hits. Classmate Jacob Waguespack pitched 1.1 innings and gave up just one hit, but fell victim to three unearned runs while on the mound.

The Razorbacks (13-12, 2-5 SEC) scored 10 runs on 15 hits behind three hits apiece by Joe Serrano and Brett McAfee. Dominic Taccolini (5-2) earned the win by giving up three runs on three hits and six walks over 5.2 innings of work.

With three base hits in the first four plate appearances, the Razorbacks loaded the bases with one out. Following a visit to the mound by head coach Mike Bianco, Trent limited the damage as only one run scored, on a sacrifice fly, before he got out of the inning.

The Rebels made Taccolini work in the second inning, drawing a pair of full count walks but was unable to get anything going. However, the work continued into the third inning and paid off. Ole Miss drew three straight walks to begin the frame, and Robinson smacked a base hit up the middle to tie the game at one run apiece. After another walk to load the bases, Orvis gave the Rebels their first lead of the game with a groundout to second that allowed Will Golsan to cross the dish. Arkansas countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to make it 2-2 after three innings of play.

A one-out double followed by a wild pitch put the go-ahead runner 90 feet away for Arkansas in the bottom of the fourth. Coach Bianco elected to bring the infield in, and the decision proved to be a great one. At the edge of the grass, Robinson made a fantastic scoop before getting to his feet to throw out the lead runner at home, keeping the game at a standstill.

Arkansas used three hits, including two doubles, to plate three runs in the fifth. However, Ole Miss responded with a run of its own in the top of the sixth. Orvis started the rally by beating out an infield single before advancing to second after a Kyle Watson walk. With two runners on base, the Razorbacks went to the bullpen. Swinging at the first pitch with a new arm on the mound, Knight delivered with a blooper to center, scoring Orvis and cutting the deficit to a pair of runs.

Ole Miss loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the seventh due to two walks as well as a bunt single by Robinson. However, Arkansas pitcher Zack Jackson sent three Rebels down on strikes to keep the game at 5-3 in favor of the home team.

The Razorbacks added five more runs over the final two innings to bring the game to its final difference of seven.

The Rebels will look to even the series tomorrow night, March 27. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT from Baum Stadium. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network and can also be heard on the airwaves of the Ole Miss Radio Network.