March 20, 2011

Box Score

OXFORD, Miss. - For the second straight day the Rebel offense mounted a rally after an early deficit, but for the second straight day it came up short as Ole Miss (15-6, 1-2 SEC) fell to Alabama (13-7, 2-1 SEC) by a score of 6-4 on Sunday at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

Alex Yarbrough led the Rebel offense with a 3-for-4 performance, while Tanner Mathis scored two runs and Matt Tracy came up with two RBI. It wasn't enough, however, as Ole Miss dropped the series with the loss.

Austin Wright (2-2) took the defeat for the Rebels, allowing five runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout in 3.2 innings of work. One of those hits was a two-run home run from Taylor Dugas. It is only the third home run allowed by the Rebel pitching staff this season.

Tucker Hawley (4-1) took the win for the Crimson Tide as he allowed three runs on seven hits with a strikeout. Jonathan Smart picked up his third save of the year, working the final 2.0 innings with one run on two hits.

"We weren't able to get the timely hit to put us over the top in several innings today," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "We missed getting the extra-base hit with runners in scoring position.  In this league that is what it takes to win games."

Alabama took the early lead with two runs in the second inning. With two men in scoring position, James Tullidge came up with a single up the middle that scored the first run and put Andrew Miller at third. Miller then scored on a sac bunt attempt, sliding under the tag at the plate to give the Crimson Tide the 2-0 lead.

The visiting team added to the lead in the fourth, pushing three more runs across the plate on a single up the middle from Miller that scored Kelton and the two-run home run from Dugas. Alabama led 5-0 heading into the bottom half of the inning.

The Rebels got a run back in the home half of the fourth when Tracy drove in Tanner Mathis from third on a single to left center. Mathis reached on a single and took second on a single from Alex Yarbrough. He advanced to third on an infield fly before scoring on the Tracy hit.

Ole Miss pushed two more runs home in the sixth on a pair of sac flies. Mathis and Yarbrough opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Mathis scored on a fly out to center from Matt Smith. Yarbrough then scored two batters later on a fly out to left from Tracy to cut the lead to 5-3.

Alabama pushed back out in front by three in the eighth inning on a single up the middle from Jeremiah Tullidge to put the score at 6-3.

The Rebels pulled back within two in the bottom of the eighth, getting a run back on a double to right center from Matt Snyder that scored Smith from first. Smith reached on a single to left with one out on the board.

Ole Miss could get no closer, however as Alabama claimed the series with the 6-4 win.

The Rebels return to action on Tuesday, closing out a 14-game home stand against Samford at 6:30 p.m.