Bat Cats Road Woes Continue, Drop A Close One to Ole Miss

The Bat Cats (29-21, 13-12) fell behind early and never could mount a substantial rally in a 3-1 loss to the nationally ranked Ole Miss Rebels (37-13, 15-10) Thursday night in Oxford.

The Rebels started the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning when Holt Perdock, in his only hit of the game, singled in a run off of UK starter Zach Brown.

In the top of the next inning, Tristan Pompey patiently waited for the fifth pitch of an at bat where he was ahead on the count 3-1. Pompey swing and drove the pitch over the right field fence to notch the game at one all.

Evan White doubled later in the inning, and Zack Reks got on base thanks to a walk, but neither JaVon Shelby nor Riley Mahan could take advantage.

Luke Becker doubled in the next inning and got as far as third base but once again his teammates failed to drive the go-ahead run home.

Ole Miss took the lead once again in the bottom of the 4th thanks to an RBI single from Cameron Dishon.

Reks and Shelby each singled the next inning with two outs, but Mahan struck out to end the Wildcat threat. Kentucky repeated the scenario in the top of the 6th. Beck and Dorian Hairston each got on base and advanced as far as second and third respectively, but the next two batters failed to drive them home.

The Rebels increased their lead to two runs, 3-1, off an RBI single by Colby Bortles in the bottom of the 7th.

Kentucky failed to get any more runners in scoring position and went down quietly over the next two innings to hand the Rebels the victory.

Brown gave UK six, nine hit innings in the loss. He gave up two runs, walked two batters and struck out four. Zack Pop pitched two innings in relief. Pop gave up two hits, a single run, struck out one and walked none.

Evan White had a productive day at the plate. He was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Becker also had a double and finished 3-for-4.

The Bat Cats and Rebels will tangle again later this evening in Oxford. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 P.M.