Alabama pitcher Tyler Fay’s fourth start of 7.0-plus innings, and his 13th consecutive start of at least 5.0 innings came against the Rebels on Thursday.
It was just a matter of time before Ole Miss’ defense would cost them a crucial game.
There were four errors last Tuesday, and some against Texas A&M, but Thursday night in Tuscaloosa, a throwing error led Alabama to score three runs in the seventh inning.
The runs were enough as the Crimson Tide rallied to a 5-4 win over Ole Miss in a key SEC game.
Ole Miss needs the series in order to possibly host a NCAA Regional in two weeks. The frustrating loss now makes the road much tougher. Ole Miss, 34-19, will try to even the Alabama series Friday with Game 2 at 6 p.m. They are 14-14 in the SEC. Alabama goes to 36-17 overall and 16-12 in the league.
The loss spoiled another strong performance from ace Hunter Elliott. He held a 3-2 lead after six innings and had struck out eight Tiders. The throwing error from Judd Utermark at third, however, changed things dramatically.
With two on and no out, Rebels Coach Mike Bianco went to the bullpen for Hudson Calhoun. Calhoun had issues, giving up a single to Bryce Fowler and two walks grabbed the lead 5-3.
Alabama reliever Matthew Heiberger was dominant in the Reb eighth, striking the side, three of 16 strikeouts for the Tide.
Ole Miss made it interesting in the ninth. Hayden Federico singled and Collin Reuter drew a walk to put the tying run on base. Austin Fawley had a two-out hit to score one to make it 5-4.
Pinch hitter Cannon Goldin, however, struck out to end the game. Heiberger got the save for Tyler Fay who went to 9-3. Fay struck out 11 Rebels. Elliott took the loss, despite only giving up three earned runs.
Up 3-2, things fell apart once Elliott left. Hudson Calhoun could not Alabama from turning the deficit into a two-run lead. walks were the big problem. He walked Luke Vaughn to put two on. A pinch-hit single from Williamson tied the game at 3.
A single by Bryce Fowler loaded the bases. Utermark tried to steady things by getting a force out third but his throw was late to get the second out and it scored Vaughn to put Alabama ahead 4-3. A bases loaded walk to John Lemm completed Calhoun’s efforts and handed the Tide a 5-3 edge.
Dom Decker opened the game with a bang, hitting a lead-off homer for a 1-0 lead. Alabama bounced back with two runs off Elliott. A ball hit for a double off his leg was a big reason why. Elliott served up a two-run homer ball to Justin Lebron for a 2-1 game.
Ole Miss tied it in the second when Hayden Federico singled, went to third on a double by Daniel Pacella and scored on a single from Austin Fawley.
The game stayed at 2-all until the sixth when Tristan Bissetta crushed a solo home run to right-center to put the Rebels up 3-2.
Elliott got out of jams in the fourth and fifth and then had a clean 1-2-3 sixth inning.
