OXFORD, Miss. — The No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels utilized nine runs in its final five innings to erase an early 1-0 UK lead and secure a series-evening 9-2 victory, in front of 4,689 fans on Saturday evening at Swayze Field.
Kentucky (32-17-1, 11-14-1 Southeastern Conference) starter Andrew Albers no-hit the Rebels through the first three innings before mother nature intervened and forced a 1 hour and 25 minute rain delay. After the delay, the Ole Miss bats came alive, as the Rebels plated nine runs on 14 hits through the final five innings. Albers took the loss, falling to 6-3 on the season, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing four runs. Ole Miss starter Lance Lynn emerged from the rain delay unaffected, working 7 1/3 innings to pick up the win, improving to 6-3 on the season.
Wildcat senior backstop Sean Coughlin posted a team-high 2-for-4 day at the plate, as UK was held to only five hits. Coughlin got the Wildcats on the board first in the second, with a lead-off, solo shot over the right field fence, making it 1-0 UK. The home run marked Coughlin?s 12th homer of the season, a club high.
After the rain delay, Ole Miss took the lead with a two-run home run from Cody Overbeck. Justin Henry reached on a two-out single up the middle and Overbeck plated him with a line-drive shot over the right field fence.
Ole Miss (33-19, 14-12 SEC) stretched its lead to 3-1 with a run in the fifth. C.J. Ketchum singled to right field with one out and a Kyle Mills bloop single put runners on first and second. Catcher Brett Basham delivered a single through the left side of the infield, out of reach of a diving shortstop Ryan Wilkes, to score Ketchum.
Kentucky cut the Rebel lead to one with a run in the top half of the sixth. Antone DeJesus worked a one-out walk and Coughlin contributed his second hit of the day to move DeJesus to third. Brian Spear followed, roping a ground ball through the right side to score DeJesus.
The Rebels answered the UK run with its own in the sixth, as Justin Henry tripled with one out down the right line. Albers induced a quick strikeout and the next batter, Zach Miller, plated Henry with a single to centerfield.
In the seventh, with UK?s Tommy Warner on the hill, Ole Miss added to its lead with two runs on two hits. Warner got two quick outs and then hit the No. 1 batter, Jordan Henry. The next batter, Zach Cozart doubled to right center, putting runners on second and third. Justin Henry cleared the bases with a two-run triple down the right-field line, making it 6-2 OM.
The Rebels continued to tack on runs off Warner, as the eighth inning began with a solo home run from Logan Power over the left-field fence. Evan Button followed with a double and Warner promptly hit DH Kyle Mills. Dewayne Oxford entered in favor or Warner and Basham laid down a sacrifice bunt. Jordan Henry was intentionally walked, setting the stage for a Cozart two-run single through the left side, putting the Rebels up 9-2.
The Wildcats and the Rebels resume the series with the rubber match, set for 2:30 p.m. EDT. Ole Miss will send freshman Nathan Baker to the hill. UK has yet to name a starter. Fans in Lexington can catch the action live on WLAP 630-AM, with the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price on the call. Louisville fans can also tune into WKJK 1080-AM.
Post-Game Notes
Team Records and Series Notes
Kentucky drops to 32-17-1 with the loss, 11-14-1 in the SEC. Ole Miss improves to 33-19, 14-12 in the SEC.
Kentucky still trails the all-time series with Ole Miss, 31-22.
Kentucky and Ole Miss face off in the final game of the three-game set on Sunday. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. EDT. UK will be looking for its first series win in Oxford since the 2001 season.
Individual Game Notes
Sean Coughlin made his team-leading 68th consecutive start.
Coughlin blasted his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot to lead off the second inning.
