OXFORD, Miss. -- In a game of back and forth rallies and big plays, the Rebels came up with the final one as Kyle Henson scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to complete a three-run rally as No. 12 Ole Miss (15-4, 3-1 SEC) defeated No. 24 Alabama (14-6, 2-2 SEC) in the series opener.

Jordan Henry was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, but his bases loaded walk in the ninth inning that was perhaps he biggest of the night as the play scored the first run of a three-run rally that would seal a Rebel victory.

Matt Smith opened he frame with a double before Kevin Mort drew a walk and pinch-hitter Matt Snyder was hit by a pitch to load he bases. Henry then drew his walk to cut the 7-5 lead to one, before Zach Miller’s groundout to second drove in the tying run a batter later. Then with Logan Power at the plate, Alabama closer Jimmy Nelson threw a wild pitch that went to the backstop, allowing a Henson - who entered to pinch run for Snyder - to score from third and give the Rebels the win.

“It was a great college baseball game, but at the end it wasn’t the prettiest,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “I’m proud we found a way to win. I thought Drew Pomeranz was terrific tonight. One of the differences in this game was Jordan Henry. He had a great night offensively.”

Rory McKean (3-1) picked up the win for the Rebels after entering the game with one out in the top of the ninth. He got the next two batters to ground out, ending the inning and halting a three run rally by Alabama that had given the Crimson Tide the 7-5 lead.

Nelson (1-2) suffered the loss for the Crimson Tide after entering the game in the ninth to relieve starter Austin Hyatt. Nelson allowed three runs on one hit with two walks and a strikeout in 0.2 innings of work. Hyatt worked 8.0 innings and allowed five runs - four earned - on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

Equally impressive for the Rebels was starter Drew Pomeranz who worked a season-long 7.1 innings allowed four runs - three earned - on seven hits as he walked one batter and struck out five.

The Rebels got on the board first when Henry scored on a throwing error from Alabama catcher Vin DiFazio trying to catch Henry stealing third. The throw sailed into left field, allowing Henry to score and put the Rebels on the board. Henry had reached on a fielding error at short to open the inning.

The Rebels extended the lead to 4-0 in the second inning with three more runs as Kevin Mort came up with a two-RBI double to drive in Jeremy Travis and Smith who had reached on a single and a walk before both got into scoring position on a sac bunt from Evan Button. Mort then scored on a Henry single to give the Rebels the four run advantage.

Alabama answered with a run in the third when Jake Smith scored on a fielding error at second, after leading off the inning with a double and moving to third on a groundout from DiFazio.

The Crimson Tide added a second run in the fifth on a solo home run from Jake Smith to cut the lead to 4-2.

The Rebels answered with a single run in the bottom of the inning when Henry scored from second on a single up the middle from Power.

Alabama then added a single run in the seventh and a run in the eighth to cut the lead to 5-4 in favor of the home team before putting up a big three run inning in the top of the ninth to take the 7-5 lead.

Ole Miss then used it’s own dramatic three-run rally in the bottom half of the inning to claim the series opening win.

The Rebels and Crimson Tide will return to action on Saturday for the second game of the series at 1:30 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.