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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Vanderbilt
Rebels Take Vanderbilt Series, Split Sunday Doubleheader
3/15/2009 | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jordan Henry went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI while Logan Power went 2-for-4 with two RBI, but it wasn't enough as No. 14 Ole Miss (11-4, 2-1 SEC) dropped the second game of a doubleheader against Vanderbilt (11-6, 1-2 SEC) by a score of 7-6.
The Rebels claimed the weekend series 2-1, but missed out on the sweep as the Commodores picked up the 7-6 win in the series finale. It was the second game of a doubleheader. Both games were seven inning contests and the Rebels picked up the first game of the twin bill 6-1 earlier in the afternoon.
Scott Bittle (1-2) suffered the loss in the second game as he allowed one unearned run on no hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief work.
Reliever Sonny Gray (1-0) picked up the win for the Commodores as he worked 3.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
"Any time you win the first two games, it's not a good feeling when you lose the final game of the series," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "Anytime you don't play well in this league, you're going to get beat, but you have to credit Vanderbilt for hanging in there and continuing to battle the whole weekend."
Ole Miss got on the board in the first when Jordan Henry scored on a single through the right side from Logan Power. Henry doubled down the left field line to open the game and moved to third on a passed ball to get into position to score on the Power hit.
The Commodores opened the second inning with four straight hits, including back-to-back doubles to push two runs across and take the lead. With runners at first and second, Aaron Barrett got Aaron Westlake to ground into a double play before a fly out from Richie Goodenow got the Rebels out of the inning trailing by one.
Ole Miss moved back into the lead in the second with a wild inning that saw Michael Hubbard lead off with a single and then score two batters later on a double from Zach Miller. Miller then scored on a single to left field from Henry. The Rebels held the 3-2 lead after one and a half innings played.
Vanderbilt reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning, pushing three runs across with a bases loaded single and then walking in a run as the Commodores put together a big inning with four hits and a pair of walks to take the 5-3 advantage.
Another run in the third extended the lead to 6-3 in favor of the Commodores.
The Rebels answered in the fourth, using three hits and a pair of walks to push three runs across the plate and tie things at six. Matt Snyder opened the inning with a double, pinch hitting for Brett Basham to lead off the inning and start the Rebel rally. The rally was capped by a chop groundout down the first base line from David Phillips with the bases loaded that scored Tim Ferguson from third and knotted the score before a groundout from Michael Hubbard ended the inning.
Vanderbilt moved back into the lead with a single run in the fifth as Harris came up with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Loftus from third. Loftus walked to open the frame and then stole second before moving to third on a throwing error off a grounder to short from Esposito.
Ole Miss would not score again as Vanderbilt picked up the 7-6 win and avoided the sweep.
Ole Miss will return to action on Tuesday when the Rebels travel to face Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
GAME 1: #14 Ole Miss 6, Vanderbilt 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jordan Henry drew three walks and scored all three times as No. 14 Ole Miss (11-3, 2-0 SEC) claimed the first game of a doubleheader over Vanderbilt (10-6, 0-2 SEC) by a score of 6-1 at Hawkins Field on Sunday.
With the win, the Rebels claimed the weekend series to open SEC play.
Henry officially finished the game 0-for1 with three walks and three runs. David Phillips provided the other three runs in the game as he hit a three-run home run in the fifth to push Ole Miss to the final 6-1 margin of victory.
Phillip Irwin (3-0) picked up the win as he worked the complete game, pitching 7.0 innings and allowed one run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Caleb Cotham (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season for the Commodores as he worked 5.0 innings and allowed six runs - five earned - on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
Ole Miss struck early, scoring on a single up the middle from Matt Smith that pushed Jordan Henry across the plate. Henry walked to open the game and took second on a passed ball before moving to third on a sac bunt from Tim Ferguson.
Vanderbilt answered in the bottom half of the frame when Brian Harris scored on a groundout to first from Curt Casali. Harris doubled to open the inning then moved to third on a single to left from Steven Liddle before scoring on the groundout from Casali to even things at one run each.
The Rebels moved back into the lead in the third inning when Henry scored from third on a grounder to first from Smith. The Vanderbilt first baseman came up and threw to second to try for the double play, but slipped on the wet dirt resulting in an errant throw, allowing Henry to score and push Ole Miss up 2-1.
Ole Miss notched a third run in the fifth when Henry scored yet again, this time on a passed ball. Henry notched his third walk of the game to get on base before moving to third on a single up the middle from Ferguson and scored on the passed ball.
Ole Miss continued to score in the fifth when Phillips came up with a three-run home run to push the Rebels to the final score of 6-1.
