The University of Mississippi Athletics
Wednesday, May 22
Hoover, Ala.
12:50 PM
Ole Miss
34-24
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Arkansas
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Ole Miss
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Arkansas
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Baseball Drops Close SEC Tournament Battle to Razorbacks
5/22/2019 | Baseball
Phillips' Strong Start Not Enough in 5-3 Defeat
HOOVER, Ala. – The Rebels couldn't capitalize on a strong start from Zack Phillips, and fell to the two-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks by a score of 5-3 in Wednesday's game in Hoover.
Ole Miss got 5.2 quality innings from Phillips but left nine men on base throughout the game, and came up just short in a two-run defeat. Phillips falls to 4-3 on the year, while Arkansas reliver Kevin Kopps picks up the win, his sixth of the year.
The Rebels will be back at it in the early game Thursday morning, with a 9:30 a.m. CT first pitch set for a win-or-go-home matchup with the Texas A&M Aggies.
Game Recap
Arkansas struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning, manufactured on an RBI single through the left side by Dominic Fletcher, and the Razorbacks jumped out to an early lead.
The Razorbacks tacked on to their 1-0 advantage with another run in the third inning. Jacob Nesbit led off the frame with a double down the right field line, and would later come around on a fielder's choice in which the Rebels narrowly missed out on a 3-6-1 double play.
For the Rebels at the plate, it was tough sledding through the game's first four innings. Thomas Dillard had the only hit for the visiting Rebels off of Razorback starter Patrick Wicklander through 4.0, a double into the left field corner in the third inning that ultimately didn't do any damage.
The fifth, however, was a different story. Anthony Servideo got the Ole Miss bats started with a one-out single into left field before he swiped second and third on a wild pitch and stolen base, respectively. Dillard sent him home on an RBI single, and allowed Justin Bench, who had reached on a walk the batter prior, to head to third on the base knock. Grae Kessinger was able to tie the ballgame up on a sacrifice fly, scoring Bench on a ball to center.
Phillips, on the bump for the Rebels, was meanwhile turning in one of his best outings of the year, albeit quietly. He only mustered three strikeouts to two walks and four hits, but managed to shut down the powerful Razorback bats for the better part of five innings. He did, however, have a little help from his fielders behind him.
The Rebels' First Team All-SEC shortstop Grae Kessinger was busy defending his new accolades with some splashy plays in the field. He tracked down a ground ball deep in the six hole for an assist in the second inning, before kickstarting an incredible double play in the fourth inning. Kessinger layed out for a ball up the middle, flipped to Bench at second from his belly, who in turn threw to first for the 6-4-3 double play and a SportsCenter Top 10 nomination.
Phillips was able to hold the Razorbacks at just two runs through 5.0 IP, and the Ole Miss bats rewarded his quality work with the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. Cole Zabowski and Ryan Olenek both reached before the inning's first out, and Cooper Johnson laid down a fantastic sacrifice bunt to put them both in scoring position with one out.
Kevin Graham, filling in for starter Tim Elko since the Razorbacks turned to a right-handed arm, sent the go-ahead run to the plate on an RBI groundout, and the Rebels took a 3-2 lead into the bottom half.
The Razorbacks answered in the bottom of the sixth, taking back the lead on a two-out RBI single that scored two runs and brought an end to Phillips' day. Austin Miller was the next man up, and the Rebel reliever quickly brought the inning to a close and limited the damage.
Miller was able to work through a clean seventh inning, but he only lasted one out into the eighth. After a single and a walk to lead off the frame, Miller was relieved for Houston Roth. The two runners reached scoring position on a wild pitch, and the Razorbacks managed to add a run on an RBI fielder's choice, in which Graham fielded a ground ball at first and went home but was a hair too late.
The Rebels at the plate were unable to make anything happen over the final three frames, and fell to the two-seeded Razorbacks by a score of 5-3.
Ole Miss will take on the six seed Aggies tomorrow in the first contest of the day, with a first pitch set for 9:30 a.m. Doug Nikhazy will be the Rebel starter on the mound.
Quick Hits
- Ole Miss falls to 34-24 on the year.
- The Rebels will play Texas A&M tomorrow in a win-or-go-home game at 9:30 a.m. CT
- Zack Phillips turned in one of his better outings of the year, going 5.2 IP, his longest since April 16 versus Memphis, and gave up just four runs, two of which came on his final pitch.
- Anthony Servideo stole third in the fifth inning, before ultimately coming around to score, for his team-high 21st swiped bag of the year. He has an impressive .955 successful stolen base rate.
- Thomas Dillard was 2-for-5 on the day, and he's now 4-for-8 in the SEC Tournament with two RBI and two doubles.
- Dillard also logged his 17th multi-hit game of the year, fourth on the team.
- Tyler Keenan and Ryan Olenek were both HBP once today, for their team-high 13th and 14th HBPs of the year, respectively.
For all Ole Miss Baseball news and information, visit the official athletics site OleMissSports.com. For more social media updates, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Baseball and on Instagram at olemissbsb.
Ole Miss got 5.2 quality innings from Phillips but left nine men on base throughout the game, and came up just short in a two-run defeat. Phillips falls to 4-3 on the year, while Arkansas reliver Kevin Kopps picks up the win, his sixth of the year.
The Rebels will be back at it in the early game Thursday morning, with a 9:30 a.m. CT first pitch set for a win-or-go-home matchup with the Texas A&M Aggies.
Game Recap
Arkansas struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning, manufactured on an RBI single through the left side by Dominic Fletcher, and the Razorbacks jumped out to an early lead.
The Razorbacks tacked on to their 1-0 advantage with another run in the third inning. Jacob Nesbit led off the frame with a double down the right field line, and would later come around on a fielder's choice in which the Rebels narrowly missed out on a 3-6-1 double play.
For the Rebels at the plate, it was tough sledding through the game's first four innings. Thomas Dillard had the only hit for the visiting Rebels off of Razorback starter Patrick Wicklander through 4.0, a double into the left field corner in the third inning that ultimately didn't do any damage.
The fifth, however, was a different story. Anthony Servideo got the Ole Miss bats started with a one-out single into left field before he swiped second and third on a wild pitch and stolen base, respectively. Dillard sent him home on an RBI single, and allowed Justin Bench, who had reached on a walk the batter prior, to head to third on the base knock. Grae Kessinger was able to tie the ballgame up on a sacrifice fly, scoring Bench on a ball to center.
Phillips, on the bump for the Rebels, was meanwhile turning in one of his best outings of the year, albeit quietly. He only mustered three strikeouts to two walks and four hits, but managed to shut down the powerful Razorback bats for the better part of five innings. He did, however, have a little help from his fielders behind him.
The Rebels' First Team All-SEC shortstop Grae Kessinger was busy defending his new accolades with some splashy plays in the field. He tracked down a ground ball deep in the six hole for an assist in the second inning, before kickstarting an incredible double play in the fourth inning. Kessinger layed out for a ball up the middle, flipped to Bench at second from his belly, who in turn threw to first for the 6-4-3 double play and a SportsCenter Top 10 nomination.
Phillips was able to hold the Razorbacks at just two runs through 5.0 IP, and the Ole Miss bats rewarded his quality work with the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. Cole Zabowski and Ryan Olenek both reached before the inning's first out, and Cooper Johnson laid down a fantastic sacrifice bunt to put them both in scoring position with one out.
Kevin Graham, filling in for starter Tim Elko since the Razorbacks turned to a right-handed arm, sent the go-ahead run to the plate on an RBI groundout, and the Rebels took a 3-2 lead into the bottom half.
The Razorbacks answered in the bottom of the sixth, taking back the lead on a two-out RBI single that scored two runs and brought an end to Phillips' day. Austin Miller was the next man up, and the Rebel reliever quickly brought the inning to a close and limited the damage.
Miller was able to work through a clean seventh inning, but he only lasted one out into the eighth. After a single and a walk to lead off the frame, Miller was relieved for Houston Roth. The two runners reached scoring position on a wild pitch, and the Razorbacks managed to add a run on an RBI fielder's choice, in which Graham fielded a ground ball at first and went home but was a hair too late.
The Rebels at the plate were unable to make anything happen over the final three frames, and fell to the two-seeded Razorbacks by a score of 5-3.
Ole Miss will take on the six seed Aggies tomorrow in the first contest of the day, with a first pitch set for 9:30 a.m. Doug Nikhazy will be the Rebel starter on the mound.
Quick Hits
- Ole Miss falls to 34-24 on the year.
- The Rebels will play Texas A&M tomorrow in a win-or-go-home game at 9:30 a.m. CT
- Zack Phillips turned in one of his better outings of the year, going 5.2 IP, his longest since April 16 versus Memphis, and gave up just four runs, two of which came on his final pitch.
- Anthony Servideo stole third in the fifth inning, before ultimately coming around to score, for his team-high 21st swiped bag of the year. He has an impressive .955 successful stolen base rate.
- Thomas Dillard was 2-for-5 on the day, and he's now 4-for-8 in the SEC Tournament with two RBI and two doubles.
- Dillard also logged his 17th multi-hit game of the year, fourth on the team.
- Tyler Keenan and Ryan Olenek were both HBP once today, for their team-high 13th and 14th HBPs of the year, respectively.
For all Ole Miss Baseball news and information, visit the official athletics site OleMissSports.com. For more social media updates, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Baseball and on Instagram at olemissbsb.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: K. Kopps (6-3)
L: Phillips, Zack (4-3)
S: M. Cronin (11)
Batting:
2B: Dillard, Thomas 1
RBI: Dillard, Thomas 1 ; Kessinger, Grae 1 ; Graham, Kevin 1
SH: Johnson, Cooper 1
SF: Kessinger, Grae 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zabowski, Cole 1 ; Servideo, Anthony 1 ; Bench, Justin 1
SB: Servideo, Anthony 1
HBP: Keenan, Tyler 1 ; Olenek, Ryan 1 ; Johnson, Cooper 1
Batting:
2B: J. Nesbit 1
RBI: M. Goodheart 1 ; D. Fletcher 1 ; J. Kenley 3
SH: J. Nesbit 1
Base Running:
RUNS: C. Martin 2 ; C Washington 1 ; D. Fletcher 1 ; J. Nesbit 1
HBP: D. Fletcher 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
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H
2
RBI
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AB
4
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H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
rf/2b
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
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IF
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RHP
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LHP/OF
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/ Baseball
LHP
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