May 22, 2012

Box Score

HOOVER, Ala. – The offensive opportunities were limited on Tuesday in the opener of the Southeastern Conference Tournament, but the Rebels were unable to convert on their chances in a pitcher’s duel as Ole Miss (34-23) fell to No. 11 Kentucky (42-15) by a score of 2-0.

The two teams both recorded seven hits on the afternoon, but a solo home run in the fourth and a pair of singles in the sixth proved to be the difference as Kentucky claimed the win.

Matt Snyder went 4-for-4 at the plate to lead the Ole Miss offense in the outing.

Bobby Wahl (6-3) took the loss, working 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

A.J. Reed (5-2) picked up the win in his fifth start of the season, holding the Rebels to five hits with a walk and three strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Taylor Rogers then picked up his first save of the season, working the final 3.1 innings and allowed only two hits with two strikeouts.

“It was disappointing,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “We got a great effort from Bobby (Wahl) on short rest. He was terrific today even though he didn’t have his best stuff. You never would have known it from watching him. It was our inability to score again. We got the hits, but we’re struggling to score.”

Kentucky scored first when Reed, who was serving as the starting pitcher and designated hitter, hit a solo shot to right field with one out in the fourth inning. Reed took a 2-0 offering from Wahl over the fence to get the Wildcats on the board with only the second hit of the morning for Kentucky.

The Wildcats added a second run in the sixth inning when Connor Flynn came up with a single through the right side to score Luke Maile from third. Maile reached on a walk and moved to third on a single through the right side from Reed to set up the score on the Flynn hit.

Ole Miss could not put together an answering rally and will now face either Arkansas or Mississippi State at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning in an elimination game at Regions Park.