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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Kentucky
Bittle's Complete-Game Shutout Gives Rebels Sweep Of Kentucky
4/5/2009 | Baseball
OXFORD, Miss. -- Scott Bittle pitched a complete-game shutout and struck out a career-high 13 batters while holding the Wildcats to only three hits as No. 15 Ole Miss (22-8, 8-4 SEC) downed Kentucky (18-12, 4-8 SEC) by a score of 8-0 on Sunday.
The win gave the Rebels a series sweep, the first in conference play this season and first SEC sweep since a taking all-three games from then No. 6 Vanderbilt in Oxford last season.
The complete-game shutout was the first of Bittle's career and the 13 strikeouts topped his previous best of 12 batters struck out against No. 12 Missouri in the NCAA Regional last season in an elimination game.
Bittle (2-2) who did not walk a batter against Kentucky, picked up his second win of the season with the outing and continued to build on a solid pitching performance from the previous weekend in a start against LSU that saw him work 7.0 scoreless innings and hold the Tigers to one hit in that outing.
James Paxton (4-2) suffered the loss as he allowed five runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Two of the eight hits were home runs by Kyle Henson and Taylor Hashman.
"It was a really good game by Scott Bittle," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "He was really terrific today. It was a good game for us offensively against a staff I consider to be one of the better pitching staffs in the Southeastern Conference with the starters they run out to the mound. We got some big hits with two outs to extend the lead and some big home runs."
Ole Miss got on the board with three runs in the second inning as Henson belted out a solo shot to open the frame. Back-to-back singles from Matt Smith and Zach Miller put two men on before Kevin Mort came up with a single up the middle to score both runners and give the Rebels the 3-0 lead.
The Rebels added to the lead in the fifth with the two run home run from Hashman that also scored Jordan Henry who had reached on a single in the previous at bat. The round-tripper gave Ole Miss a 5-0 advantage after five innings complete.
Brett Basham, who entered the game defensively in the top of the sixth, opened he bottom half of the frame with a single then took second and third on a pair of wild pitches. He scored three batters later on another single from Mort to give Ole Miss the 6-0 lead.
Pinch-hitter Matt Snyder then opened the seventh inning with a home run to left field to add even more to the Rebel lead. David Phillips, who entered to pinch hit for Jeremy Travis, drew a walk and was replaced on the base path by Michael Hubbard. Hubbard took second on a passed ball then scored on a single from Smith to give Ole Miss the 8-0 lead and final margin of victory.
Ole Miss will return to action on Tuesday when the Rebels host New Orleans in the first of two mid-week games. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 6:30 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
