Ole Miss baseball strands bases loaded in 9th, loses 3-2 to Arkansas in College World Series
OMAHA, Neb. — Ole Miss baseball had its first bad day in a long time.
The Rebels dropped a College World Series battle against Arkansas, 3-2, on Wednesday, forcing a winner-takes-all showdown on Thursday (3 p.m.) with a spot in the College World Series championship series on the line. The loss was Ole Miss' first in the postseason, snapping a seven-game winning streak.
Ole Miss had no answers for Arkansas pitchers in the first eight innings but finally put pressure on the Razorbacks in the ninth. Designated hitter Kemp Alderman led off the frame with a single, followed by back-to-back hit-by-pitches to load the bases with no outs.
Pinch hitter Hayden Leatherwood struck out for the first out. Outfielder T.J. McCants popped out to shallow left field for the second out, unable to advance a runner. Justin Bench hit an RBI infield single to make the score 3-2 with two outs, bringing up shortstop Jacob Gonzalez. Gonzalez lined out to left field to end the game, stranding runners on all three bases.
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Senior left-hander John Gaddis took the loss, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings in his first start since April. Gaddis, junior Jack Washburn and sophomore Jack Dougherty were the only pitchers the Rebels needed to use, saving top relievers Brandon Johnson, Josh Mallitz and Mason Nichols with full rest for Thursday.
Here's what led to Ole Miss' loss against Arkansas.
Bats go cold
Designated hitter Kemp Alderman provided the Rebels' first run with a second-inning solo home run into the left field bullpen. Alderman had three of Ole Miss' five hits, the others being Bench's in the ninth and one from second baseman Peyton Chatagnier.
Arkansas left-handed pitchers Hagen Smith and Evan Taylor put on a strikeout clinic. Smith struck out eight batters in five innings and Taylor struck out four in three. Smith's breaking ball proved particularly effective when he struck out six batters in the third and fourth innings, stranding a leadoff baserunner both times.
When Ole Miss' offense is at its best, it's because the top of the order is flooding the bases. That wasn't the case Wednesday. Middle-of-the-order bats Jacob Gonzalez, Tim Elko and Kevin Graham were 0-for-11.
Pitchers impress but don't do enough
Gaddis pitched to contact but allowed two loud swings. He was tagged for solo home runs by right fielder Chris Lanzilli and designated hitter Brady Slavens. Slavens' fifth-inning blast was the longest home run hit in the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field since the event moved to this venue in 2011 and only the third-ever home run to straightaway centerfield.
Washburn followed Gaddis, allowing one run in two innings, and Dougherty worked around two hits and an intentional walk to throw two scoreless innings. Dougherty struck out two Arkansas hitters with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to keep the score 3-1.
Ole Miss struggled all year to find production from its third-day pitchers. Gaddis, Washburn and Dougherty all pitched above their season averages and kept the Rebels in the game, but Ole Miss' bats couldn't play to that quality too.
What it means for Thursday
Ole Miss may be able to turn to ace Dylan DeLucia on MLB rest Thursday. That's two days shorter than his regular rest, but in a winner-takes-all game, he might be Ole Miss' best option.
Arkansas can do the same with its ace Connor Noland, who the Hogs didn't have to use in either of their two elimination games the last two days.
DeLucia outdueled Noland in a previous meeting this season, but both have been dominant this postseason. DeLucia has a 2.33 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 19⅓ innings. Noland has a 2.61 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 20⅔ innings.
Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss baseball loses 3-2 nail biter to Arkansas in College World Series
