March 15, 2003
Oxford, Miss. –
Ole Miss (12-6, 2-0 SEC) broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring five runs on four hits, to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 lead. Ole Miss chased UK starter Heath Castle (1-1) from the game and reliever James Rodriquez failed to record an out, giving up two hits and hitting a batter, before Rob Bland came in to finish the inning. The Rebels tacked on three more in the eighth en route to a 9-2 victory.
Caleb Stewart unloaded on a T.J. Beam fastball to lead off the top of the seventh inning, sending it over the wall in left center field for his first long ball of the season, giving Kentucky a 2-1 lead. Jake Kungl then reached on a walk and Caleb Brock singled to center, chasing Beam from the mound. After Ole Miss reliever Brae Wright (1-1) struck Brad Pickrell out, Kungl was called out at the plate on a safety bunt attempt from Joe Naill. Casey Gilvin laid down a bunt single to load the bases with two outs, but Wright struck Spencer Graeter out to end the UK rally.
The game began as a pitcher’s duel between Castle and Beam, with neither team able to scratch the scoring column in the first five innings. Castle threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, and striking out six. Beam threw six solid innings for the Rebels, giving up two earned runs while striking out six and scattering seven hits.
Kentucky started the scoring in the top of the sixth inning when Mike Breyman ripped a two-out single back up the middle to score Spencer Graeter from second base. Ole Miss knotted the game back up at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Jonathan Swearingen reached first on an error and scored on a Chad Sterbens double.
The two teams will finish their weekend series with game three on Sunday afternoon. Kentucky will send Seth Stanley (1-1) to the mound against lefty Eric Fowler (0-1) for the Rebels. First pitch is set for 2:35 p.m. EST from Swayze Field.
– UK –
