.png&width=48&height=48&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Auburn
Power Becomes All-Time RBI Leader; Rebels Sweep Auburn
5/3/2009 | Baseball
AUBURN, Ala. -- Logan Power was 5-for-6 at the plate with five RBI as the senior became the all-time RBI leader at Ole Miss (36-13, 16-8 SEC) as the seventh-ranked Rebels swept Auburn (27-22, 8-16 SEC) with an 11-4 victory on Sunday at Plainsman Park.
With the five RBI on the afternoon, Power has tallied 171 RBI for his career and passed the previous best of 168 RBI set by Kyle Gordon in 1987. The sweep was also the first SEC road sweep for the Rebels since a sweep of Georgia in 2006.
Power paced the Rebel offense on the afternoon as six Rebels tallied multiple hits on the afternoon. Kevin Mort and Evan Button both finished 3-for-4 with four runs scored by Mort, while Button scored two runs and drove in two.
Brett Bukvich (8-1) picked up the win for the Rebels as he was forced into a start when Scott Bittle - who was slated to draw the start - was unable to go at game time. Bukvich worked 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
Dexter Price (3-2) suffered the loss for the Tigers as he allowed four runs - three earned - on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work.
"It was really a complete game today and one in which we played well all around," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "It started with Bukvich being able to perform so well after getting the late start and then players like Logan Power really getting our offense going.
"What he (Power's) done in his career - to be the all-time leader in RBI - is impressive. They've been playing this game for more than 100 year here and to be the top all-time at your school is impressive."
Ole Miss got on the board in the third when Kevin Mort scored on a ground out from Jordan Henry. Mort singled then advanced on a bunt single from Evan Button that saw a throwing error from the Auburn third baseman allow Mort to move to third. He then scored when Henry grounded into the double play to give the Rebels the 1-0 lead.
The Rebels loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth as back-to-back singles from Mort and Button put two on before Henry drew a walk. Auburn then turned to its bullpen for right-hander Austin Hubbard as Logan Power came to the plate. Power then came up with a two-RBI single through the left side to give Ole Miss the 3-0 advantage.
Matt Snyder then drew a walk to again load the bases with no outs for Matt Smith. Smith came up with a two-RBI single to left that pushed Ole Miss out to a 5-0 lead.
Auburn answered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from Trent Mummey that scored
Brian Fletcher from second. Fletcher singled before moving to second on a single up the middle from Tony Caldwell to get into scoring position for the Mummey hit.
Auburn then made a heads up play for another run in the inning as a single to short scored a run from second. Caldwell scored from second as Mort fielded the ball and tossed it to Button at the bag, but the runner slid in safely. Caldwell continued the play, turning the corner at third and scoring as the throw sailed high to the plate. Mummey, who was safe at second, took advantage of the opportunity to move to third on the throw home and leave runners at the corners.
Ben Jones then singled to left to score Mummey, cutting the Rebel lead to 5-3 after five complete.
In almost an exact repeat of the fifth, Ole Miss again loaded the bases with no outs on three straight singles from Mort, Button and Henry before Power came up with a two-RBI single to push the lead back to 7-3 in favor of the Rebels. The move sent Auburn to its bullpen again for right-hander Bradley Hendrix.
Hendrix got Snyder to ground into a double play as Henry moved to third, but a fly out from Miller ended the inning with the Rebels leading by four runs.
A lead-off double from Casey McElroy in the bottom of he sixth sent the Rebels to the bullpen for the first time on the afternoon as Ole Miss called in righty Aaron Barrett. Barrett then retired he next three batters on a lineout, strikeout and groundout to get the Rebels out of the inning with no damage done.
Button extended the lead for the Rebels in the seventh with a two-RBI single through the right side and gave Ole Miss a 9-3 lead. A walk of Henry in the next at bat again sent Auburn to the bullpen for Ty Kelly, who again ended the Rebel threat but Ole Miss still led by seven.
A sac fly from Justin Hargett in the bottom of the seventh scored a fourth run for Auburn as Dan Gamache scored from third on the play. Gamache singled to open the inning and took second on a wild pitch. He then moved to third on a groundout to second from Mummey to get into position for the Hargett sac fly.
Ole Miss added two more runs in the ninth as Power and Snyder came up with RBI singles as part of a two-out rally to push the Rebels on top 11-4.
Auburn would get no closer as Ole Miss would hold the Tigers off down the stretch to claim the win and the series sweep.
The Rebels return to action next weekend when Ole Miss will host Mississippi State in the final home series of the season. First pitch Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)