The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Take Game One from Mississippi State 2-1
6/21/1999 | Baseball
May 15, 1999
OXFORD, Miss. - Sophomore Justin Huisman worked out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth inning to notch his Ole Miss single-season record-setting 10th save of the season and give the Rebels a 2-1 win over arch- rival Mississippi State in the opening game of a three-game Southeastern Conference series Friday in front of 4,584 fans at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
With the win, the Rebels (31-23, 16-12 SEC) clinched a berth in next week's SEC Tournament in Birmingham. The berth is the first by an Ole Miss squad to the conference tournament in which it had to qualify for since 1982. The Rebels did appear in the 1995 SEC Western Division Tournament when the conference held separate tournaments for each division.
"This was a tremendous win," said third-year head coach Pat Harrison. "It got us into the tournament, and it let us play our way into the tournament instead of getting in on help from someone else."
Ole Miss starter Jeff McAvoy carried a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning and the Bulldogs opened the ninth with back-to-back singles from Cliff Wren and Chris Curry. Mississippi State (37-16, 14-13 SEC) then loaded the bases when Jon Knott hit a bouncer in front of home plate and Carl Lafferty's throw to third was low in the dirt allowing pinch-runner Shane Kelly to slide in safely.
Huisman then relieved McAvoy, and Josh West lined into a double play for the first outs of the inning. Huisman then struck out Chris Lotterhos to end the game.
With the save, Huisman also tied Skipper Wright's school career save record of 13.
McAvoy, 8-4, earned the win, allowing one on eight hits and two walks, and fanning six.
Mississippi State drew first blood, scoring a run in the second on Wren's RBI single to score Travis Chapman.
Ole Miss finally broke through in the seventh. Brad Henderson hit a one-out double and Alex Williamson followed with a walk. Mississippi State starter Brian Compton was then lifted for Kevin Donovan. Donovan struck out Voltz looking for the second out of the inning but Burney Hutchinson came through with a two-run double that proved to be the game-winner.
Compton worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits and six walks while striking out nine in taking a no decision.
Donovan, 2-1, suffered the loss, allowing one run on one hit and one walk in 1 1/3 innings.
Chapman and Wren recorded two hits each as the Bulldogs out-hit the Rebels 8-4 in the loss.
The 16 SEC wins by Ole Miss sets a new school record for conference wins, bettering the previous mark of 15 held by the 1972, 1977 and 1982 teams.
Game two of the series is set for 4:00 p.m. Saturday. Junior right-hander Dan McShea, 5-3, 4.92 ERA, is scheduled to start for Ole Miss against Mississippi State senior right-hander Hank Thoms, 7-4, 2.39 ERA.
