The University of Mississippi Athletics
Baylor Downs Ole Miss 7-3
6/21/1999 | Baseball
February 13, 1999
WACO, Texas - Ole Miss was unable to overcome a four-run first inning by Baylor, and the Bears' Chad Hawkins struck out 13 Rebels as No. 25 Baylor defeated Ole Miss 7-3 Saturday afternoon at McLennan Community College.
The loss dropped Ole Miss to 1-1 on the season, while Baylor improved to 3-4. The two teams will meet in the rubber-match of the three-game series Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Baylor scored its four first-inning runs on just one hit as Ole Miss starter Ryan Bukvich loaded the bases on walk, a hit batter and another walk to start the game. Right fielder Jaime Bubela then hit a three-run triple to right center and scored two batters later on Matt Williams' sacrifice fly to right to make it 4-0.
Bukvich overcame the shaky start to retire 12 straight batters following Bubela's triple before issuing a lead-off walk to Kelly Shoppach to start the fifth. Bukvich would pitch five innings, allowing the four earned runs on one hit and three walks in suffering the loss.
Robert Shelton hit his first home run of the year with a solo shot in the third to cut the Baylor lead to 4-1.
The Rebels cut the Baylor lead to 4-3 by mounting a two-out rally in the fifth. After Michael Rosamond and Shelton struck out to start the fifth, John Massey and Alex Williamson singled. Chad Hill followed with a RBI single to score Massey and Williamson would score on a wild pitch to make it 4-3. Brad Henderson and Jude Voltz would then draw back-to-back walks to load the bases, but Hawkins would get out of trouble by coaxing Chad Mead to ground to second.
Baylor's Matt Williams pushed the Bears' lead to 5-3 and Baylor would add two insurance runs in the eighth to make it 7-3.
Massey went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Rebels as Ole Miss out-hit Baylor 7-6. Massey is now 6-for-9 in the series.
Hawkins pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out 13 to improve to 1-1 on the year.
Kyle Edens picked up his first save by recording the final two outs of the ninth.
