No. 7 Ole Miss Defeats Georgia 6-4

Ole Miss catcher Henri Lartigue
Photo by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics@olemisspix

Shortstop Errol Robinson used three hits to record a career-high four RBI, including a three-run triple as part of a four-run fourth inning, and lead No. 7 Ole Miss past Georgia 6-4 Friday night at Foley Field. Robinson recorded a single, double and triple in succession in his first three plate appearances to fall just a home run short of the cycle.

Alongside Robinson, junior catcher Henri Lartigue tallied three hits of his own as the duo combined for six of the team’s seven hits. Will Golsan also reached base three times throughout the night, scoring on two occasions.

On a night where starter Brady Bramlett didn’t have his best stuff, the Rebels (35-12, 13-9 SEC) relied on their bullpen and they came through. The quartet of Andy Pagnozzi (8-2), Brady Feigl, Will Stokes and Wyatt Short (8) kept Georgia (22-24, 7-15 SEC) off the scoreboard by only allowing one hit in the final five innings of the game.

Eight Bulldogs finished with hits, including Keegan McGovern who had a pair. On the mound, Ole Miss scored all six runs off Georgia ace Robert Tyler, tying for the most earned runs given up in a start by one of the top Major League Baseball prospects.

The Rebels wasted no time getting a run off Tyler. On the second pitch of the game, Robinson found a hole on the right side of the infield for a base hit. Ryan Olenek followed with a walk, and the two Rebels advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. With one out and two runners in scoring position, J.B. Woodman did his job to plate Robinson, grounding out to second base to give Ole Miss the early lead. However, the Bulldogs flipped the script in the bottom of the inning as Skyler Weber belted a two-run homer to left. After the first two hitters in the order crossed the plate, Bramlett settled down and retired three straight to end the frame with Georgia holding a 2-1 lead.

Ole Miss answered in the second to tie the game at 2-2. Just like in the opening inning, the first two runners reached base to start the scoring opportunity. Lartigue singled to right before Golsan drew a walk. A two-out double down the left field line by Robinson scored the tying run. Georgia put runners on second and third to start its half of the inning, but Bramlett forced a pair of popups to go along with a strikeout. With the Ole Miss ace getting out of the jam, the contest remained 2-2 through two.

Georgia re-gained the lead with a pair of runs in the third. Three hits and a bases-loaded walk brought two Bulldog runs across the plate. Bramlett limited the damage as he recorded two strikeouts looking to leave three runners on base, but Georgia went up, 4-2.

Once again, the Rebels countered in the next inning with Robinson playing a major role. Similar to the second frame, Lartigue and Golsan started things with a base hit and walk, respectively. Michael Fitzsimmons put together a quality at-bat before drawing a walk to load the bases. With one out, the bases were quickly cleared as Robinson tripled to right-center field. The shortstop’s third hit of the night turned a two-run deficit into a one-run lead. On a wild pitch, Robinson raced home to double the Rebels advantage, 6-4, and cap a four-run fourth inning.

After the first five innings, Ole Miss held a two-run lead thanks to offense by Robinson, Lartigue and Golsan. The Rebel trio combined to go 7-for-7 with two walks, five runs and four RBI the first three times through the order. Each Rebel reached base in those nine plate appearances at that point of the game.

Both bullpens held the hitters in check for the remainder of the game. UGA’s Bo Tucker limited the Rebels to two hits in 5.0 innings of relief. Meanwhile, the Ole Miss bullpen did not allow a hit in four consecutive innings before Georgia singled in the ninth. However, Short got three straight Bulldogs out to secure the series opener for the Rebels.

Ole Miss will look to lock up the series with a victory in game two tomorrow. The matchup features a pair of southpaws as Ole Miss sophomore David Parkinson goes up against Georgia junior Connor Jones. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports