May 23, 2012

Box Score

HOOVER, Ala. - Junior right-hander Brett Huber tied the career saves record at Ole Miss, combining with sophomore Mike Mayers to shutout the Razorbacks on Wednesday as Ole Miss (35-23) defeated No. 25 Arkansas (39-19) by a score of 2-0 at the SEC Tournament.

With the win, Ole Miss staved off elimination and will play again at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday against either No. 21 Mississippi State or No. 2 LSU.

Mayers (5-3) picked up the win with 7.0 innings of work against Arkansas, striking out eight and walking one while scattering five hits across his time on the mound. The right-hander has now pitched 13.1 scoreless innings against Arkansas and also picked up a 1-0 win over the Razorbacks in the regular season series.

Huber picked up his 10th save of the season and 26th of his career to tie the school's all-time save record, matching the total put up by three-time All-American Stephen Head from 2003-06. Huber worked the final 2.0 innings of the game with a hit and three strikeouts.

"We played terrific today in a real grind-it-out game," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "Mike (Mayers) was tremendous for us and then Huber just shut the door on them the final two innings. It's been a tough 10 days. We're glad to win one."

Ole Miss got on the board in the fourth inning when Zach Kirksey scored from third on a groundout to second from Sikes Orvis. Kirksey opened the inning with a triple off the wall in right center to set up the scoring play two batters later.

The Rebels added a second run in the seventh inning when Kirksey came up with a bases-loaded sac fly to center field to score Tanner Mathis. Mathis started the inning with an infield single - his 22nd of the yea - before a single to left center from Alex Yarbrough put two men on. Matt Snyder then singled to right to load the bases for Kirksey, who made it 2-0 with his sac fly.

The Rebel pitching staff did not allow a batter to advance past second base in the game, and allowed only two base runners to advance past first base, holding the Razorback offense in check to allow Ole Miss the opportunity to claim the win.

It was the ninth shutout win of the season for Ole Miss and third against an SEC team.