The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Falls to Alabama, 10-7
6/21/1999 | Baseball
April 27, 1998
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama held off a furious Ole Miss ninth- inning rally for a 10-7 win over the Rebels Friday night at Sewell- Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Rebels entered the ninth trailing 10-2 but rallied for five runs in the inning. Freshman John Massey highlighted the inning by hitting his first career home run, a two-run shot that pulled Ole Miss to within 10-7. Michael Rosamond followed with a single before J. Blankenship was able to strike out pinch-hitter David Swan to end the game.
The Crimson Tide (34-11, 14-7 SEC) used the long ball to build 10-2 advantage after five innings. Matt Frick and Paul Phillips hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning to give Alabama at 5-0 lead.
Jayson Cox added a two-run shot in the fourth, highlighting a four-run Alabama fourth-inning, and Drew Bounds led off the fifth with a solo shot to make it 10-2.
That was more than enough for starter Justin Smith worked 7 2/3 solild innings to earn the win. Smith held the Rebels to two runs on eight hits while striking out 10 to improve to 6-1 on the season.
Sophomore Ryan Bukvich suffered the loss for Ole Miss (24-21, 8-13 SEC) to fall to 4-3.
Senior Jason Huisman went 2-for-5 with one RBI for Ole Miss to tie David Dellucci's 1995 school single-season RBI record of 63.
The two teams will play game two of their three-game series tomorrow at 2 p.m. Sophomore Jeff McAvoy (3-5, 7.03) is scheduled to start for Ole Miss against Alabama's junior right-hander Peter Fisher (4-5, 5.72 ERA).
