#8 Ole Miss Holds Off Vols in Game Two

Saturday, March 19

Knoxville

4:00 PM

University of Tennessee

12-6, 1-1

Ole Miss

18-2, 1-1

Ole Miss

Tennessee

March 19, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

March 19, 2016

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee nearly battled back from a three-run deficit, but couldn't find a late-inning rally as it dropped Game Two of its weekend series with No. 8 Ole Miss, 6-4, Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Vols (12-6, 1-1 SEC) and Rebels (18-2, 1-1 SEC) will play the rubber match of their SEC-opening series on Sunday, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m. ET.

Three Vols posted multi-hit outings on the afternoon, led by Vincent Jackson's 3-for-5 day. Benito Santiago went 2-for-4 with a double and scored two runs while Jared Pruett finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.

After falling behind 5-2 after six innings, Tennessee clawed back to within a run by tallying two in the bottom of the seventh. A one-out double to right field from Santiago put two runners in scoring position as Leno Ramirez had reached on a fielder's choice in the previous at-bat. Pruett then picked up his RBI when he grounded towards the Ole Miss first baseman, whose throw home was not in time to catch Ramirez. Santiago moved up to third on the play, and came in to score on Max Bartlett's RBI-groundout to shortstop.

Still trailing 5-4 with one out in the eighth, Jackson pushed Nick Senzel into scoring position when notched his third single of the day. The scoring threat was eliminated on the next at-bat, however, as Jordan Rodgers flew out to right field and Senzel was caught trying to advance to third.

Despite two impressive defensive putouts at home plate from the Vols, Ole Miss was still able to tack on an insurance run in the ninth. That final tally set the stage for Rebels closer Wyatt Short to shut the door in the ninth with three consecutive strikeouts.

The Vols looked poised to tie or take the lead in both the fourth and fifth innings, but stranded a combined six runners between the middle frames. In the fourth, UT worked the bases full with two outs, but Rebels' pitcher Chad Smith escaped the inning with a timely strikeout of Senzel. Tennessee again loaded the bases just one inning later, but this time Ole Miss reliever Brady Feigl -- who picked up the win after going two solid innings in relief -- came through to get Bartlett swinging.

Andy Cox pitched 6.0 innings in relief for the Vols, and did well to keep the Rebels bats in check and allow the Tennessee offense a chance to battle back. Cox worked his way out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth, setting Ole Miss' Colby Bortles down swinging before retiring Tate Blackman on a groundout up the first base line.

All told, Cox allowed three runs on five hits while striking out a season-best seven batters in his six innings of work.

Vol Baseball Quick Hits

After going 3-for-5 with three singles, senior Vincent Jackson notched his seventh multi-hit game of the season -- good for the team lead.
Playing right field, Chris Hall notched his third assist of the season when he threw out Ole Miss' Errol Robinson at the plate in the ninth inning.
Up Next: Tennessee and Ole Miss play the rubber match in Sunday's series-finale at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET with live streaming available online through SEC Network + (WatchESPN.com). Hunter Martin (2-0, 1.17) is expected to make his fourth start of the season while Ole Miss is projected to throw righty Sean Johnson (3-0, 1.80).