Fifth inning implosion allows No. 3 Arkansas to tie SEC series up with No. 13 Ole Miss

Ole Miss appeared to be on its way to knocking out Arkansas starter Gabe Gaeckle in the first inning but then a Will Furniss inning-ending double changed the complexion of everything.

With bases loaded and with two runs already scored Furniss’ ground ball snuffed out the momentum and the offense was never the same.

No. 3 Arkansas found its offense, using an eight-run fifth inning to fuel a 12-3 win over No. 13 Ole Miss to even the Southeastern Conference series on Saturday. This was the first loss at home after starting 13-0 at Oxford-University Stadium.

The Rebels (15-3, 1-1 SEC) and Razorbacks (17-2, 1-1) will play the rubber match Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CT

After getting two runs on a hit in the first inning the Ole Miss offense could only muster one run and three hits over the final eight innings. Catcher Austin Fawley’s solo home run in the sixth was the final run of the night for the Rebels.

“As disappointing as that is, Gaeckle’s really good,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. “When they open the door and they give you an opportunity you want to take advantage of it, but we didn’t. Last night we did. But more disappointing than that was we didn’t do anything after that. We didn’t do anything, offensively, and didn’t give ourselves a chance.”

Gaeckle settled down and commenced to work three more innings of shutout baseball, striking out six other batters and issued only one walk after the first. The Rebels batters struck out a combined 18 times in the game.

Infielder Luke Hill was the only Ole Miss player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 on the night. Designated hitter Ryan Moerman was the other Rebel to record a hit.

On the other side of things Riley Maddox shook off a tough start but the Ole Miss bullpen scuffled.

Maddox allowed a run in the first inning but managed to avoid further damage. From there he worked into the fifth inning, but a home run ended his night.

The right-hander allowed three runs, all earned, off four hits and struck out three Razorback batters while walking two more. Despite the start and the home run by left fielder Charles Davalan the middle ws good for Maddox. Only issue is yet another starter does not get past the fifth inning.

“Thought (Maddox) was okay,” Bianco said. “He pitched well enough to win and got us to where we wanted to be. One pitch away from getting through the fifth, maybe. …We were right at the edge there and that’s I came so quickly. We were ready to go to the bullpen but he pitched so well through the fourth we wanted to give him an opportunity there.”

Bianco went to Will McCausland first out of the bullpen and the transfer right-hander did not have his stuff on Saturday. Two of his first three pitches were taken deep for back-to-back home runs by Arkansas’ Wehiwa and Kuhio Aloy. After an RBI single three batters later by Rocco Peppi Bianco went back to the pen, bringing in Ryne Rodriquez.

McCausland did not record an out, allowing five runs – all earned – on four hits. He did not issue a walk or strike anyone out but did hit one Arkansas batter.

“On the other side of the ball you can’t blow up like that (in an) inning,” Bianco said of the fifth. “A bunch of home runs, a lot of really good swings by some good hitters but somehow you got to make a pitch, make a play and stop the bleeding and we weren’t able to get off the field there”

Rodriguez, Alex Canney, Landon Waters and Patrick Galle worked the final five innings for Ole Miss. Waters was tagged for back-to-back home runs to lead off the ninth. Galle and Rodriguez allowed a run each.