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Maddox, Ole Miss let down by defense in series-opening loss to Kentucky

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•03/29/24•

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Ole Miss RHP Riley Maddox (Photo credit: Ole Miss Athletics)

No. 22 Ole Miss baseball stepped on rake after rake in its series opener against No. 15 Kentucky Friday night at Swayze Field.

Unsurprisingly, the Rebels, as a result, suffered their third loss in their last four SEC games. Ole Miss (18-9, 3-4 SEC) fell, 5-3, to the SEC-leading Wildcats, who improved to 22-4 (6-1) overall.

Most of the damage for Ole Miss was self-inflicted. The Rebels coughed up three unearned runs on three passed balls, a wild pitch and three errors.

“Have to play better defensively,” senior outfielder Ethan Groff, who made a highlight-worthy catch in center field in the loss, said afterwards. “Not going to win a lot of games like that.”

An attempt at a ninth-inning rally fell short. 

Ole Miss loaded the bases with one out. However, Ethan Lege and Groff flew out and grounded out, respectively. Groff finished with a team-high two hits in five at-bats. Lege drove in the Rebels’ only two RBI.

Riley Maddox, in his first turn as Ole Miss’ Friday night starter, was charged with four runs (one earned) on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks over 5.2 innings. 

“He was good,” head coach Mike Bianco said. “He was sharp. Tough first (inning) and he handled it. I thought he was excellent. He’ll kick himself a little bit; he had an opportunity to get off the field in the sixth. Doesn’t make a couple of pitches (and) we don’t make some plays behind him. That’s frustrating. 

“It’s tough to win any ballgame when you’re giving up three unearned runs.”

Mason Nichols and Mitch Murrell were the only other Rebel pitchers of record. Murrell handled the final 2.0 innings. He had two strikeouts and a lone hit allowed in eight batters faced.

The teams meet against Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT. 

RELATED: Ole Miss bullpen, offense pick up Carmack’s slack in 13-9 win over Austin Peay

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