© Sarah Warnock/Special to Clarion Ledger
Rebels Rally Late, Even Series vs. Tennessee in Knoxville
The Ole Miss Rebels rode a late offensive push to a Game 2 win over the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday night.
It took a comeback, but the Ole Miss Rebels rode a late offensive surge to rally and defeat the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday night by a final score of 8-5.
LHP Liam Doyle drew the start on the mound for the Rebels, and while he largely kept the Vols at bay during his six innings of work, he was tabbed for four runs on the night, three of which were earned. Tennessee's runs came in pairs in the second and seventh innings, and they also pushed across a single run in the eighth to claim a late lead that put the Rebels behind entering the ninth.
Outside of those frames, however, Ole Miss was ready and able to respond after a difficult showing in Game 1 on Friday night. The Rebels struck with a solo home run in the top of the first inning from Andrew Fischer (one of two on the day for the third baseman) and again in the fourth with Brayden Randle's second homer of the weekend and season to tie the game at two apiece.
Fischer's second home run gave Ole Miss a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning before the Vols were able to tie the game and reclaim the lead in the eighth at 5-4.
The ninth inning, however, is when things came alive for Ole Miss as it tied the game on a Jackson Ross RBI double and saw two runs score on a single from centerfielder Ethan Groff. The final run of the night crossed the plate on a groundout from Treyson Hughes to give the game its final tally of 8-5.
After Doyle's strong outing that included 10 strikeouts, he was relieved on the hill by Josh Mallitz (1.1 IP), Mason Nichols (1.1 IP) and Connor Spencer (0.1 IP). Nichols was awarded the win after entering the game in the eighth, and the save by Spencer was his fifth of the season. Mallitz was the only relief arm to surrender a run on Saturday for the Rebels.
Ole Miss and Tennessee will conclude their series on Sunday afternoon with the winner claiming the series. Grayson Saunier is expected to toe the rubber for the Rebels, and first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on SEC Network+.