April 19, 2011

Box Score

PEARL, Miss. - The Rebels fell behind early and couldn't muster a comeback as errors proved costly once again in Jackson with Ole Miss (23-15) falling to Mississippi State (23-14) in the fifth-annual Governor's Cup game by a score of 6-1.

Ole Miss had won the previous two contests in the game played at Trustmark Park that was previously known as the Mayor's Trophy before moving from Smith-Wills Stadium following the 2006 season. Despite the loss on Tuesday night, Ole Miss has won seven of the last 10 contests in the annual midweek tilt.

Matt Tracy (3-3) suffered the loss for Ole Miss as he allowed five runs - three earned - on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.

Kendall Graveman (4-0) picked up the win, working 4.0 innings as he allowed three hits and walked one batter. Graveman took the win as the predetermined pitcher of record by Mississippi State.

Will Allen - who tripled in the eighth inning - scored the Rebels' lone run of the night as he came home on a groundout to second from Austin Anderson.

"It was a disappointing night for us," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "It was just more of the same that we've seen the last couple of weeks. We shot ourselves in the foot at some inopportune times. We swung the bat well early, but we didn't have a lot to show for it. They just played better than we did tonight."

Ole Miss hit into three double plays in the first four innings to end potential rallies by the Rebels.

Mississippi State got on the board first, pushing two runs across the plate in the first inning thanks to a fielding error on sac bunt attempt that allowed one run to score and left two men in scoring position with one out on the board. A groundout pushed the second run home before the Rebels could get out of the inning down 2-0.

A lead-off triple and a groundout put a third run on the board for the Bulldogs in the second inning before Mississippi State would add a fourth run in the fifth inning on a fielding error in right field on a fly ball that would have been the third out of the inning.

With the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning, Mississippi State came up with back-to-back singles to drive in two more runs before a strikeout and a fly out ended the inning with the Bulldogs up 6-0.

Ole Miss got on the board in the eighth on the Allen score, but the Rebels couldn't continue the rally as a strikeout ended the inning with two men in scoring position for the final 6-1 score.

The Rebels return to action on Thursday night when Ole Miss will take on Auburn in a game televised by ESPNU as a part of the Southeastern Conference's new television package. First pitch on Thursday night is set for 6:30 p.m. at Plainsman Park.