Rebels Defeat Georgia State 1-0

Kyle Watson’s solo home run proved to be all No. 14 Ole Miss needed in a 1-0 victory over Georgia State Tuesday night at Swayze Field. Returning to Oxford, the Rebels (8-4) got back on the winning track and snapped a four-game losing skid.
Ole Miss claimed a 1-0 victory for the first time since Feb. 23, 2013 (vs. Rhode Island). It was the 54th 1-0 game in program history as well as the fourth consecutive win in that scenario.
Three Rebels combined to give Ole Miss its first shutout of 2017. Freshman Ryan Rolison (2-0) made his first career start, going 5.0 innings and adding five strikeouts. Freshman Greer Holston followed, contributing 2.0 scoreless innings to set up Will Stokes (3). Pitching for the first time in 10 days, the Ole Miss closer earned his second six-out save of the year. The trio of Rebel arms recorded 10 strikeouts on the night, while walking four.
With his homer in the second inning, Watson became the eighth Rebel to leave the yard this season. Freshman Bryce Blaum, making his first career start, added his first career hit and made multiple plays with his glove at second base.
Brandon Baker (0-2) took the loss for Georgia State (6-5), going 5.2 innings and allowing only one run on two hits. Leadoff hitter Justin Jones paced the Panthers offensively with two of the team’s six hits.
Rolison gave up a leadoff single, but he quickly wiped the runner off the base path by forcing a groundball double play on the next at-bat. After two scoreless frames from their starting pitcher, the Rebels took a 1-0 lead on a Watson long ball to left-center field.
In the top of the fourth, GSU loaded the bases in hopes of claiming the lead. However, Rolison worked out of the jam when Watson caught a fly ball in center. He followed the tough frame with a scoreless fifth to complete his first start.
Holston entered the game in relief, allowing only one hit and one walk in his 2.0 innings of work to keep Ole Miss out in front. Stokes continued the trend, shaking off a two-out GSU single in the ninth to secure the game for the home squad.
The Rebels will look to complete the midweek sweep of Georgia State tomorrow at 3 p.m. Freshman Will Ethridge will make his second start of the year for Ole Miss. Will Kollmeyer and David Dellucci will have the call on SECN+, while fans can also listen to David Kellum and Keith Kessinger on the Ole Miss IMG Sports Network.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports