Sloppy Play Dooms Rebels in Series Opener vs. Kentucky

The Ole Miss Rebels were unable to overcome a slew of miscues on Friday night in an SEC loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Ole Miss Rebels RHP Riley Maddox throws a pitch on Friday night against the visiting Kentucky Wildcats. / Ole Miss Athletics

OXFORD - The No. 22 Ole Miss Rebels dropped game one of their weekend series against the No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats on Friday night, falling 5-3 at Swayze Field behind some costly errors.

Although Kentucky was able to claim the win, the Wildcats only mustered five hits, and three of their runs were unearned in the series opener.

Kentucky pushed across a run first on Friday, one brought home on a throwing error from shortstop Luke Hill, but Ole Miss was able to answer in a similar fashion in the bottom half as catcher Campbell Smithwick scored on a failed pickoff attempt from Kentucky pitcher Trey Pooser.

The Wildcats' next push came in the top of the sixth inning on more sloppy play from the Rebels, bringing home a trio of runs on a wild pitch, fielding error and passed ball to give Kentucky a 4-1 lead. Not to be denied, however, Ole Miss again responded with a two-spot in the bottom half on a home run by left fielder Ethan Lege, one that also brought home first baseman Jackson Ross.

That 4-3 score lasted until the top of the eighth when Kentucky's Emilien Pitre hit a solo home run to right center, pushing the score to its final. Ole Miss was able to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but a lineout by Ethan Lege and groundout from Ethan Groff stranded the runners and ended the game.

On the hill for Ole Miss, Riley Maddox drew his first start of SEC play, tossing 5.2 innings of three-hit, four-run ball, but only one of those runs was earned. He also walked two men and struck out four, and he was relieved by Mason Nichols and Mitch Murrell who combined to go the distance and allow one run on two hits while striking out three.

With the loss, Ole Miss falls below the .500 mark in SEC play, and it will look to return to that point on Saturday afternoon at Swayze Field. First pitch between the Wildcats and Rebels is set for 1:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on SEC Network+.