Ole Miss Baseball Steals Game 1 Against Florida Gators in Strong Series-Opening Win

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ole Miss Baseball (21-10, 4-6 SEC) defeated No. 21 Florida (23-8, 6-4 SEC) to open the series in Gainesville on Thursday 6-4.

Every starter in the lineup reached base at least once and eight of the nine had at least one hit in the win. Cannon Goldin went 2-for-2 with an RBI and Brayden Randle hit his second home run of the season. Tristan Bissetta drew three walks, reached base four total times, and stole two bases.

Taylor Rabe made his first SEC start, striking out six batters over a career-high 4.2 innings of work. Hudson Calhoun would end up picking up the win with two innings of scoreless relief. Walker Hooks earned his first save of the season, allowing just one hit over the final two innings.

Florida scored the first run of the game in the first inning as the leadoff hitter singled on the first pitch, stole second base, and came home on a single to center field.

The Gators held onto the 1-0 lead until the third inning when the Rebels put up three runs. Bissetta and Will Furniss each drew a walk to open the inning.

Collin Reuter hit a double down the left field line to tie the game, and Dom Decker gave Ole Miss the lead with an RBI groundout. Goldin collected his second hit of the day and drove in a run to make it 3-1 Rebels.

Randle hit his home run in the fifth inning after a lengthy at bat, muscling a 3-2 pitch over the fence in right field to make it 5-1.

Florida answered with a two-RBI home run of their own in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to two runs.

Ole Miss added another run in the sixth inning as Judd Utermark and Furniss traded doubles to make it 6-3.

Florida would put up another run in the eighth on a solo shot but that would be all for the Gators as Hooks shut the door the rest of the way.

The Rebels and Gators will play game two tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+

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