FAYETTEVILLE -- No. 17 Ole Miss reversed the course on No. 22 Arkansas Saturday taking an 11-4 win at Baum-Walker Stadium in front of 10,491 fans.
The Razorbacks had a run-rule 12-2 win on Friday night using outstanding starting pitching and the long ball. That is exactly what Ole Miss did Saturday. They got an outstanding start from Cade Townsend (5-1) and hit four home runs. The Rebels wasted no time in the first inning scoring five runs including a grand slam from Collin Rueter with five of the first six hitters reaching base and scoring. Dave Van Horn talked about what happened to starter Cole Gibler (4-2) in that inning.
"They took advantage of every mistake he made," Van Horn said.
The Rebels added another run in the fourth on a solo shot by Austin Fawley to start the inning. Fawley also led off the top of the sixth with a solo home run that made it 7-0.
The Razorbacks finally got some offense going in the bottom of the sixth with two outs and no one on base. Carter Rutenbar doubled to right field. Maika Niu followed with a two-run blast off of Townsend. The Razorbacks loaded the bases after Niu's home run, but Damian Ruiz ended the threat grounding out to second base.
Ole Miss got the two runs back in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run by Will Furniss with Judd Utermark on base.
Kuhio Aloy hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to pull Arkansas within 9-3. Camden Kozeal added a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 9-4 for Ole Miss.
The Rebels added two runs off reliever Jackson Kircher in the top of the ninth to end the scoring. Arkansas went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.
A silver lining for Arkansas in the loss was Gibler going 5.1 innings and throwing 95 pitches to save the bullpen for Sunday's rubber match. Tate McGuire pitched 2.2 innings before giving way to Kircher for the ninth.
"That was big for us Gibler to throw 95 pitches and only gave up two runs after the first inning," Van Horn said.
Ole Miss did use closer Walker Hooks to pitch the final 1.2 innings. Van Horn was asked if he thought that meant Hooks might not be available Sunday?
"They will use him twice on the weekend," Van Horn said. "He will pitch if they need him tomorrow."
Hudson Calhoun pitched 1.2 innings in relief of Townsend. Ole Miss' three pitchers combined to allow four runs on seven hits, struck out eight and walked three.
Arkansas' three pitchers allowed 11 runs on 16 hits with Ole Miss and Arkansas both stranding six runners on the day. Arkansas' pitchers did strike out 14 hitters on the day and walked only one.
Arkansas (31-17, 12-11) and Ole Miss (32-16, 12-11) will play the final game of the series on Sunday with the first pitch slated for 2 p.m.
