No. 6 Ole Miss Drops Game One to South Carolina

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In the first Southeastern Conference matchup of the season at Swayze Field, No. 6 Ole Miss fell to No. 10 South Carolina, 5-1, Thursday night. Ole Miss hitters were able to tally 11 hits, while Rebel pitching struck out 10 Gamecocks, but it was the road team that took the series opener.

With the setback, Ole Miss (20-3, 2-2 SEC) dropped just its third game of the season, while South Carolina (21-2, 4-0 SEC) increased its winning streak to 11 games and remained perfect in conference play.

Junior Henri Lartigue posted a perfect night at the plate, going 4-for-4 to post a new career high in hits. Fellow junior J.B. Woodman added a pair of hits for his team-leading ninth multi-hit game of the season, while also knocking in the long Rebel run.

Starting pitcher Brady Bramlett (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks. Sophomore David Parkinson threw a career-high 4.1 innings in relief, giving up just one run.

South Carolina’s Gene Cone was the offensive leader of the night, going 3-for-4 with a home run. Designated hitter John Jones and third baseman Jonah Bride added two hits apiece, and both Gamecocks reached base four time throughout the night.

Right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt (5-0) threw 6.2 innings, holding the Rebels to a single run and recording eight strikeouts. Josh Reagan (7) pitched the final 1.2 innings to earn the save.

The Gamecocks jumped on Bramlett early, scoring two runs in the first frame. After the first two South Carolina batters walked, left fielder Alex Destino hit a RBI single up the middle to score Cone. The lead was extended when Bride singled to right field and Destino crossed the dish. After a scoreless first for the Rebels, South Carolina added one more in the top of the second one a solo home run shot by Cone, making it 3-0.

Ole Miss fought back on the three run deficit in the bottom of the third. Three consecutive singles by Will Golsan, Errol Robinson and Woodman put the Rebels on the board when Golsan scored on Woodman’s single.

In the top of the fifth, South Carolina tallied one more run. Dom Thompson-Williams singled through the right side to score LT Tolbert as the margin grew back to three, 4-1. With runners on first and second, Parkinson took over the mound for the Rebels. The southpaw proceeded to pitch Ole Miss out of a bases-loaded jam to end the inning.

Woodman kept the Gamecocks from scoring again in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Destino hit a fly to centerfield. Woodman made the catch and sent an incredible throw into the plate to nab Marcus Mooney before he was able to score. The double play ended the inning and the score remained 4-1.

South Carolina put up a fifth run in the top of the ninth on back-to-back Gamecock doubles. Catcher Chris Cullen’s RBI double to left field scored Bride to make it a 5-1 game.

With two outs in the top of the ninth and a runner on second, Dallas Woolfolk took over on the mound for Parkinson. Woolfolk closed the game without giving up a hit, but the Rebels could not overcome South Carolina’s 5-1 lead.

Ole Miss and South Carolina square off again at Swayze Field on Friday night, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. The Rebels will look to get back to their winning ways and even the series. Tomorrow’s game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ for fans to catch the action.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports