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Ole Miss Rebels Swept by No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville
The Ole Miss Rebels baseball team has now lost its last three series versus conference opponents.
The Ole Miss Rebels baseball team put forth a valiant effort but lost 7-4 to the No. 1 Arkansas Razorbacks on the road on Saturday afternoon. The Rebels were swept by Arkansas and have now lost seven straight games. Ole Miss baseball has effectively hit a will, as it has also lost its last three SEC series.
Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco switched things up on Sunday to try and give his team an edge, letting junior reliever Mason Nichols make his first career start for the Rebels. Entering Saturday's matchup, the righty held a career ERA of 4.27 in 84.1 innings of work with 110 strikeouts to his name.
In his first career start, Nichols made it through three clean innings of work, before the Razorbacks got on the board in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a solo shot into right field. The Jackson, Miss., native allowed three hits, three walks, one earned run and struck out four batters in his first career start.
Arkansas struck first, but the Rebels answered with two RBI singles to take a 2-1 lead over the Razorbacks in the top of the fifth inning. The Razorbacks scored two more runs in the bottom of the frame before Ole Miss freshman Brayden Randle singled into left field to score sophomore Judd Utermark and tie things up in the top of the sixth. Arkansas broke the tie, however, in the bottom of the seventh after scoring four runs to retake the lead.
At the plate outfielder Ethan Groff led the Rebels with two hits and two RBIs in four at-bats.
Nichols was relieved by a combination of five Rebel relievers: Josh Mallitz (0.1 IP), Brayden Jones (0.2 IP), Connor Spencer (1.1 IP), Sam Tookoian (0.1 IP), and Ryne Rodriguez (1.2 IP). In total, the Ole Miss bullpen allowed six runs and five walks.
The Rebels will now head back to Oxford to host the Murray State Racers on Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at Swayze Field and the game will be available via ESPN+.
