HOOVER, Ala. – Junior right-hander Lance Lynn had never lost in the Southeastern Conference Tournament and he kept that streak alive on Wednesday as Ole Miss (35-22) defeated sixth-ranked and top-seeded Georgia (35-20-1) in the opening round of the SEC Tournament by a score of 4-1.

The Rebels will now face Kentucky, who defeated Alabama 9-3 in the opening day’s final game. Thursday's first pitch is set for 8 p.m. at Regions Park.

Lynn (7-3) struck out 12 batters on the night, tying a career-high, as he picked up the win and ran his SEC Tournament record to 3-0 for his career. The junior allowed one run on four hits with four walks and 12 strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. Scott Bittle picked up his eighth save of the season as he worked the final 2.1 innings, striking out four and walking two while allowing only two hits.

Georgia’s Nick Montgomery (2-2) suffered the loss in only his second career start as he worked 4.0 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

“It was a great game tonight and a well played game by both teams,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “Lance Lynn was tremendous tonight and very dominant. We were able to get him a lead and then just let him pitch. He looked like vintage Lance tonight.”

“I wasn’t really pitching like it was our season on the line, I just wanted to go out there and do whatever it took to get my team to the next round,” Lynn said.

Ole Miss struck first, pushing two runs across in the top of the first as Cody Overbeck delivered a two-RBI single to left field that scored Jordan Henry and Fuller Smith. Back-to-back singles from Henry and Smith opened the game before a sac bunt from Logan Power put the two runners in scoring position for the Overbeck single.

Michael Guerrero pushed the Rebels out to a 3-0 lead as he opened the fourth inning with a solo shot down the left field line.

Georgia got on the board in the bottom half of the sixth as Robbie O’Bryan came up with a two-out RBI single through the right side to score Ryan Peisel from second. Peisel singled to open the inning before moving to second on a walk of Gordon Beckham.

Ole Miss extended the lead back to three in the top of the ninth as an RBI single up the middle from Henry pushed Ferguson across the plate. Ferguson singled to open the inning before moving to second on a sac bunt from Brett Basham and stealing third.

Henry and Smith led the rebels at the plate as both players went 3-for-5 on the night with runs scored. Henry also notched an RBI.