The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Kentucky
Five-Run Seventh Pushes Ole Miss Past Kentucky
3/15/2003 | Baseball
March 15, 2003
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OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss sent 11 batters to the plate during a five-run seventh inning en route to a 9-2 Southeastern Conference win over Kentucky Saturday afternoon in front of 2,378 at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
With the win, the Rebels (12-6, 2-0 SEC) clinch the weekend's series after winning Friday night's series opener 3-2 in 10 innings.
Trailing 2-1, Dustin Cliburn drew a lead-off walk and pinch-runner Shawn Yarbrough was advanced to second on Stephen Head's sac bunt. After Drew Rogers grounded out to second for the second out of the inning, seven straight Ole Miss batters reached base safely.
Charlie Waite's RBI single tied the game at 2-2, and after a Matt Tolbert walk, Jonathan Swearingen ripped a double down the left field line to score Waite and Tolbert to put the Rebels up 4-2.
Swearingen later added a two-run single to highlight a three-run eighth, as he finished the afternoon 2-for-5 with four RBIs.
Caleb Stewart gave Kentucky a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh with a lead-off home run off starter T.J. Beam. Jake Kungl then walked and Caleb Brock singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. Freshman left-hander Brae Wright then came on in relief of Beam and struck out Brad Pickrell for the first out. The Wildcats then attempted to score a run on a squeeze bunt by Joe Naill, however, Wright fielded the bunt and threw home in time to get Kungl at the plate.
Kentucky loaded the bases on Casey Givlin's bunt single, but Wright escaped the jam when he struck out Spencer Graeter to end the seventh.
Wright (1-1) worked 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win, and Head retired all four batters he faced to record his second save.
Kentucky starter Heath Castle (1-1) was charged with the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. Castle also struck out six.
Sophomore outfielder Seth Smith was also 2-for-5 with an RBI for Ole Miss as the Rebels out-hit the Wildcats 9-8.
Mike Breyman and Gilvin both recorded two hits each for Kentucky.
Ole Miss 9, Kentucky 2 (Mar 15, 2003 at Oxford, Miss.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Kentucky............000 001 100 - 2 8 1 (7-10, 0-2 SEC) Ole Miss............000 001 53X - 9 9 1 (12-6, 2-0 SEC) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Kentucky - H. Castle; J. Rodriquez(7); R. Bland(7); M. Scott(8). Ole Miss - TJ Beam; Brae Wright(7); Stephen Head(8). Win-Brae Wright(1-1) Save-Stephen Head(2) Loss-H. Castle(1-1) T-2:53 A-2378 HR UK - C. Stewart (1). Game notes: HR DISTANCES: C. Stewart (UK) 388-7th Sterbens (UM) 199 career hits. B. Wright (UM) 1st career win. Series concludes Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. TJ Beam faced 3 batters in the 7th. J. Rodriquez faced 3 batters in the 7th. R. Bland faced 5 batters in the 8th. Game: UM0315
