Vols Drop Series Finale to #8 Ole Miss

Sunday, March 20

Knoxville

2:00 PM

University of Tennessee

12-7, 1-2

Ole Miss

19-2, 2-1

Ole Miss

Tennessee

March 20, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

March 20, 2016

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Junior Jordan Rodgers notched a homer and four RBIs, but Tennessee dropped the series finale to No. 8 Ole Miss on Sunday, falling 10-7 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Rodgers, who had entered the series with an NCAA-leading 31 RBIs to his name, picked up four more to lead the Vols (12-7, 1-2 SEC). He finished the day with a three-run home run and added another RBI on a sacrifice fly. Chris Hall (2-for-3), Leno Ramirez (2-for-4; double), Tyler Schultz (2-for-3), and Derek Lance (2-for-3, double) all had multi-hit days as UT pounded out 11 hits against the Rebels (19-2, 2-1 SEC).

Nursing a 3-2 advantage after four innings, Ole Miss used a five-run fifth to distance itself from the Vols. The Rebels notched three hits in the frame and benefited from a Tennessee error. All three Rebel hits produced runs, highlighted by Henri Lartigue's two-run double to center field. Ryan Olenek and Will Golsan added RBI-singles, and J.B. Woodman pushed Ole Miss' lead to 8-2 with a sacrifice fly.

After the visitors tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh, UT climbed back to within striking distance by scoring four runs in the bottom half. Lance kick-started the quick rally with a double into left-center, and after Hall singled and Nick Senzel walked, Vincent Jackson plated Lance with a sacrifice fly. On the ensuing at-bat, Rodgers sent his third home run of the season over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 10-6.

Rodgers' RBI-sac fly in the ninth was all Tennessee could scrape together over its last six outs, though, settling the final tally at 10-7.

Steven Kane (0-2, 4.50) took the loss for UT after pitching 3.2 innings in relief of starter Hunter Martin, who exited in the first inning. Andy Pagnozzi (4-0, 2.42) earned the win for Ole Miss.

Tennessee fell behind 2-0 after the first inning, but quickly made up the deficit with a two runs of its own in the bottom of the second. Ramirez led off the inning with a double and eventually came in to score two batters later on Jared Pruett's RBI groundout. After Max Bartlett singled, Lance walked, and Hall reached on an error, Nick Senzel drew a bases-loaded walk to score Bartlett and level the score.

Ole Miss jumped back in front with a run in the top of the third before pulling away in the decisive fifth.

Vol Baseball Quick Hits

With four RBIs on Sunday, Jordan Rodgers now boasts 36 RBIs to his credit this season. He entered the series leading the nation in RBIs with 31.
For the second consecutive game, Chris Hall showed off his arm in right field by throwing out a Rebel baserunner at the plate. On a single into right from Ole Miss' Connor Cloyd in the top of the third, Hall came up throwing and caught Holt Perdzock trying to score from second. It was Hall's fourth assist of the season.
Senior left fielder Vincent Jackson flashed the leather in the eight inning, making a leaping grab before slamming into the outfield wall on a sharply hit ball by Cameron Dishon.
Tennessee's 11 hits marked the 11th time in 19 games this season that the Vols have pounded out 10-plus hits.
Next Up For the Vols: Tennessee returns to Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a mid-week, non-conference showdown with Tennessee Tech on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET. That game will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee baseball, visit UTSports.com/Baseball and follow @Vol_Baseball on Twitter.