BATON ROUGE, La. -- Senior right-hander Scott Bittle was masterful in his first start of the season - and first since the 2007 season - as he worked 7.0 scoreless innings, but it wasn’t enough as No. 2 LSU (21-6, 6-3 SEC) rallied in the eighth for a 2-1 victory over No. 11 Ole Miss (16-8, 5-4 SEC).

It is the first series loss for the Rebels in Southeastern Conference play this season.

With the Rebels leading 1-0 in the eighth, LSU took advantage of three singles and a throwing error to push two runs across and take the first lead of the game before holding on for the win.

Jake Morgan (2-1) suffered the first loss of his career as he worked the eighth inning and allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Bittle was superb in the start, working 7.0 scoreless innings and allowed only one hit as he walked two and struck out 10.

Austin Ross (4-2) picked up the win as he worked 8.0 innings and allowed only one run on two hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Matty Ott earned his third save of the year as he closed out the ninth and held the Rebels to one hit.

“You really have to credit Sean Ochinko for swinging on a 2-0 count,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “We didn’t throw the runners out and they took advantage of their opportunities in the eighth. You have to seize the moment and we didn’t do that today. Despite them getting runners on, we still had opportunities to get out of the inning and couldn’t get out of it.”

The Rebels manufactured a run in the fifth inning when Matt Smith scored on a wild pitch to give Ole Miss a 1-0 lead. Smith doubled down he right field line with one out on the board before moving to third on a fly out to the wall in left center from Zach Miller. He then scored on the wild pitch to get the Rebels on the board.

LSU answered in the eighth when pinch runner Chris McGhee entered the game for Sean Ochinko who singled up the middle to open the frame. McGhee then stole second and moved to third on a throwing error trying to catch him stealing. McGhee then scored on a line drive to second that Ferguson knocked down, but couldn’t come up with allowing Tyler Mahtook to reach safely and knot the game at one.

Mahtook then stole second before scoring on a seeing-eye single to right from Jared Mitchell that gave the Tigers the first lead of the game a 2-1.

LSU held on for the win as Ole Miss moved a runner to third with two outs in the top of the ninth, but couldn’t get him home as the Tigers picked up the win and took the series.

The Rebels will return to action on Monday with a home game against Arkansas State at 6:30 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field. Fans can gain admission to the game by using the ticket for the original game against Arkansas State that was scheduled for March 17.