After game one was moved from Friday, April 24 to Saturday, April 25, Ole Miss took on Georgia in a doubleheader. The Bulldogs went up 8-0 in the fourth, but the Rebels chipped away at the lead while the bullpen and few defensive gems kept them in it.
Second baseman Dom Decker’s 3-run homer in the eighth was the knockout punch. Outfielder Hayden Federico made a diving grab to seal the win.
Shortstop Owen Paino, who got the nod over Brayden Randle, and left fielder Topher Jones started in game one. Luke Romine also got his second straight start as the designated hitter.
Thanks to the rain on Friday, ace Hunter Elliott got the start with an extra day’s rest. He last pitched on Friday, April 17 in a win against Tennessee.
Georgia led off the game with two line drive singles. Elliott got the first out on a flyball to left and Decker made a slick back-handed grab to throw a runner out, but the Bulldogs still threatened with two runners in scoring position.
Third baseman Rylan Lujo drove in two runs with a soft liner to left. Elliott got out of the inning with another fly out to left.
The Rebels went down quickly in the first. First baseman Will Furniss got the bottom of the second started with a first-pitch single. He advanced to second on a passed ball.
After Federico struck out, Georgia center fielder Rylan Lujo took a hit away from Paino and Romine struck out to strand Furniss at second.
Elliott recorded his first 1-2-3 frame in the third on 11 pitches. The Rebels got a single in the bottom half of the inning, but could not do anything with it. The Ole Miss offense struck out six times through three innings.
Lujo snuck a double past third baseman Judd Utermark to start the fourth. Elliott hit the next batter to put runners on first and second with no outs. Georgia second baseman Ryan Wynn reached first on a bunt hit after no one covered first.
The Bulldogs looked to blow the game open with the bases loaded and no outs. A single made it 4-0 with a runner on third. Another bunt drove in the fifth run. Elliott plunked another batter to put runners on first and second.
Utermark made a sliding grab and got the force out at third for the second out of the inning. A bloop hit scored another run. Another single scored two to make it 8-0. Head coach Mike Bianco pulled Elliott and brought in Landon Waters.
Elliott had his worst start of the season. He pitched just 3 ⅔ innings, allowed nine hits, gave up eight runs and struck out two. His earned run average ballooned to 4.82.
Decker made a leaping grab out in shallow right field. While he could not hang on to the ball, he threw the runner out at first to end the inning.
Furniss, Federico and Paino drew walks to load the bases with one out in the fourth. Romine struck out on three pitches for the second out, then catcher Austin Fawley hit a grand slam to cut the deficit to four.
Right fielder Tristan Bissetta made a diving catch to prevent a run and end the top of the sixth. The Rebels still trailed, 8-4.
Federico walked to begin the bottom of the sixth. He advanced to second on a fielder’s choice. Georgia starter Joey Volchko struck out Romine again and the Bulldogs went to the bullpen. Reliever Caden Aoki came in and struck out Fawley.
Decker got Ole Miss within three with a homer that snuck into the Rebel bullpen. In the eighth, Furniss launched a solo homer to straight-away center to make it 8-6. Federico followed it up with a missile that reached the student section to get within one.
Paino grounded out and Randle replaced Romine. He roped a single up the middle and chased Aoki from the game. Justin Byrd came in relief. Fawley struck out, then Jones singled to put runners on first and second. Moseley came in as a pinch runner for Jones.
Every fan in the stadium was on their feet for Decker’s 3-run homer to put Ole Miss ahead 10-8.
Closer Walker Hooks came in to save the game. The Georgia leadoff got an infield single to begin the ninth. He got a flyout then walked a batter.
With two runners on Paino attempted to get a force out at second on a hard hit grounder. He was unable to get the out at first because the runner impeded his throw. After reviewing the call, Paino got the force out, but the runner at first was ruled safe at first despite the interference.
Federico made a game-saving diving play in left to secure the win.
The Rebels will look to win the series in game two at 5:05.
