May 17, 2012

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Bobby Wahl turned in his eighth quality start of the season, allowing only two earned runs on three hits in more than seven innings of work, but No. 22 Ole Miss (34-20, 14-14 SEC) couldn't get the offense going in a 3-0 loss at Vanderbilt (27-25, 14-14 SEC) on Thursday night.

Wahl (6-2) took the loss despite a solid outing, allowing three runs - only two of them earned - on the three hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work.

T.J. Pecoraro (1-4) picked up the win as he tossed a complete-game for Vanderbilt, allowing five hits with three strikeouts in his time on the mound.

"They played their game tonight which is to bunt, and hit and run, especially with the top of their lineup," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "They did a good job of getting runs in the few opportunities they had tonight. We didn't get them in the few opportunities we had tonight. We have to do a better job of that. We can't leave guys at third base like that. We have to get clutch and timely hits and make the plays on defense."

Vanderbilt got on the board in the fourth inning when Mike Yastrzemski scored from third on a groundout to short from Anthony Gomez. Yastrzemski reached on a walk and then stole second and third with Gomez at the plate before the Vanderbilt shortstop drove home with the groundout to make it 1-0 in favor of the Commodores.

Ole Miss had an opportunity in the sixth with Tanner Mathis at third and one out following a lead-off double and a sac bunt. A double play on a fly ball to left and a perfect throw to the plate held the Rebels off the board as Vanderbilt escaped the sixth without surrendering any runs.

The Commodores added a second run in the bottom half of the inning, using a fielding error at short with a man on third to take a 2-0 lead. Vince Conde opened the inning with a double off the wall in left field before taking third on a sac bunt. He then scored on the error on the ground ball as Vanderbilt took the two-run lead.

A walk of Yastrzemski put two men on before a single through the left side from Gomez put the Commodores on top 3-0. The Rebels got the second out on the play as Yastrzemski wandered too far off the bag at second and got caught coming back to the bag at second. A groundout to short ended the inning with the Rebels trailing 3-0.

Ole Miss couldn't mount another rally as Vanderbilt held the Rebels off the board the rest of the way to take the win in the series opener.

The Rebels and Commodores will play game two of the series at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night at Hawkins Field.