It was a brutal game to be an Ole Miss pitcher. Ninth ranked Texas A&M bounced back in a big way, run-ruling the Rebels 18-5 in seven innings at Swayze Field.
The Aggies evened the series and went to 37-11 with the win. Ole Miss, after being down 13-5, evidently trying to save pitching for tonight’s third game, that is start about an hour after the end of the afternoon debacle, goes to 32-18 and 13-13 in the SEC.
Five Ole Miss pitchers gave up 15 hits and seven of them went yard. Ben Royo had a day with two bombs and 4 RBIs. Chris Hacopin also had two homers. A&M had all but one of their nine starters get a hit or score multiple runs.
Cade Townsend took the loss and four subsequent relievers did worse, except Owen Kelly, who allowed only a run, solo homer t Hacopian that made it 18-5.
Ole Miss got five runs and were led by Judd Utermark with two doubles and three RBIs.
Townsend’s day ran afoul in the third inning. Solo home runs by Blake Binderup and Ren Royo handed the Aggies a 2-0 lead.
Townsend walked Grahovac after a strikeout. Next, Ole Miss’ shaky defense reared its ugly head again. A roller to third was misplayed allowing another runner for the Aggies. This hurt because Chris Hacopian crushed a ball to left for a 3-run homer and a 5-0 Aggie advantage.
The Rebels did get three back in the bottom half of the third and used base hits to get them. Daniel Pacella got on after a hit by pitch. Will Furniss singled and both runners came home on a double by Utermark in right center that slipped past a diving Aggie.
Down 5-2, Utermark scored on a hit by Hayden Federico that dropped in front of the Aggie centerfielder.
Back in the game at 5-3, Townsend found himself out of the game after giving up a two-run shot to Royo that made it 7-3, Aggies.
It was Royo’s second homer of the day.
Townsend lasted just 3.1 innings and allowed seven runs, six earned. He struck out four but also gave up four home runs.
Luke Walter wasn’t much better. He gave up a two-run homer to Caden Sorrell that upped the Aggies to a 9-3 advantage.
At least Ole Miss battled. They managed two runs in the bottom half of the fourth to stay within four at 9-5. Seven Rebels reached base with Decker and Utermark getting RBI hits. The Rebels, however, could not get the big blow, like A’M’s home runs.
