Southern Miss
Mississippi
Baseball Falls to No. 2 Ole Miss, 8-5
3/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 4, 2008
OXFORD, Miss - Southern Miss fell at No. 2 Ole Miss 8-5 Tuesday afternoon in front of 3,893 fans at Swayze Field on the campus of the University of Mississippi.
"I thought we had some opportunities to win tonight, but we could not take advantage of them," head coach Corky Palmer said. "There were some plays we normally make, not errors, that we just did not make tonight, especially on the left side of the infield."
Temperatures reached into the 20's and at times during the game and there was light snow flurries but the bats were hot with 21 total hits in the game.
Starting Pitcher Todd McInnins (2-1) picked up his first loss of the season, throwing only three-and-two-thirds innings and allowing six runs to one of the nations best offenses.
"I though McInnins deserved a better fate tonight," Palmer added. "He had to throw to many pitches and we were hurt at the catcher position by not blocking balls very well tonight".
One good sign for the Golden Eagles was seeing All-American Trey Sutton get back in the grove offensively, with three hits and run scored on the day.
Southern Miss wasted no time in getting on the score board in the top of the first innings. Trey Sutton had his first extra base hit of the season, doubling right over the first base bag. Catcher Keith Winstead followed with a two-out double in the right-center field gap that platted Sutton and gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Ole Miss answered with two runs in the bottom of the third. Shortstop Evan Button lead off the inning with a double to left-center field, but was tagged out at third on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Brett Basham right back to McInnis. Jordan Henry followed with a single to right-center field moving Basham to third base.
McInnis threw two consecutive balls in the dirt that were partially blocked b catcher Keith Winstead allowing Basham to score from third and Henry to advance around to third base. Michael Hubbard followed with a soft RBI single to the shortstop putting the Rebels ahead 2-1.
Southern Miss came right back to tie the game at two in the top of the fourth inning on a solo homerun against a stiff wind to straight-away centerfield by Michael Ewing. It was the first homerun of the season for Ewing.
Not to be outdone the Rebels came right back in the bottom of the fourth to re-take the lead. First baseman Matt Smith singled under a diving Josh Fields at third base for a single to left field. Zack Miller followed with a double down the left field line, scoring Smith from first base. Evan Button drew a walk and Brett Basham singled to left field scoring Miller.
Michael Hubbard added a two-RBI single up the middle putting Ole Miss on top 6-2 through four frames.
Button added a solo home run on the first pitch that Seth Hester threw over the right field wall, give Ole Miss a 7-2 lead.
Southern Miss cut into the Rebels lead in the top of the seventh inning, Josh Fields started the rally with a leadoff double down the leftfield line. Bo Davis and Chris Matesich followed with walks to load the bases. Ole Miss brough in new pitcher Brett Bukvich to face Brian Dozier, who singled to left field scoring Fields and Davis, making the score 7-4.
The Golden Eagles added another run in the top of the eighth inning. Drew Carson worked a leadoff walk and Josh Fields followed with his second double down the left-field line in as many innings. Ole Miss changed pitchers and Scott Bittle's first pitch to pinch-hitter Trey Cuevas got past Ole Miss catcher Brett Basham allowing Carson to score from third, making the score 7-5.
Ole Miss added another run in the bottom of the eight on a sacrifice fly by Michael Hubbard, on a diving catch by Michael Ewing in right field, scoring Evan Button.
Southern Miss will continue the current eight-game road trip, traveling to Cal State Fullerton for a three-game series beginning Friday at 9:00 p.m. CST.
-southernmiss.com-
