FINAL: LSU 12, Ole Miss 3

Alex Yarbrough

This is why the multitude of missed opportunities on Friday was so painful. Given the way things have gone lately for the Rebels in SEC Game 3s, it didn't seem there would be as many opportunities today, and there were not.

The Rebels have now been outscored 27-8 in their last three SEC Sunday games.

Dylan Chavez wasn't great as the starter, but he did make it past the first inning, something the Ole Miss starter had not done in the previous two Sundays. Chavez gave up three runs on four hits in 3.0 innings.

Ole Miss tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-run single by Matt Snyder, and Chavez gave up the lead on the second pitch of the top of the fourth with a solo home run from Tyler Ross.

It was still a 3-2 game then, but the bullpen couldn't hold things together.

In succession, Josh Laxer (.2 ip) gave up four runs on three hits, Aaron Greenwood (1.2 ip) gave up two runs on two hits and Hawtin Buchanan (1.2 ip) gave up three runs on four hits.

Casey Mulholland finished things out with two innings of hitless, scoreless relief, but by the time Mulholland got the ball in his first SEC appearance, the intensity of the game was very different.

While the pitching clearly was not good, the hitting really didn't keep up, not that the Rebels were going to score 13 runs, but they may have made things more competitive in the middle innings. Again, it was a day of hits but not runs for Ole Miss. The Rebels finished with 10 hits, three of them from Alex Yarbrough. It will be a boost if he can get his stroke going again.

Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said his players will take off Monday and Tuesday for finals before resuming practice on Wednesday. He said the break comes at a good time.

***

About 40 minutes from the first pitch.

The Sunday starting experiment shifts today to Dylan Chavez. The last two Sunday starters have not reached the second inning. It's the first start for Chavez, the junior college transfer who has appeared in relief for 33 innings through 20 appearances.

I had an error in today's print edition which stated the Ole Miss bullpen has given up just three runs in the last 24 innings. In fact, the bullpen has given up just three runs in the last 25 SEC innings. Throwing in last week's USM and Murray State games, and it's four runs in the last 35.1 innings.

LINEUPS

LSU

CF Arby Fields .247

SS Austin Nola .298

1B Mason Katz .329

LF Raph Rhymes .497

RF Alex Edward .281

DH Jordy Snikeris .306

C Ty Ross .302

3B Tyler Hanover .289

2B JaCoby Jones .256

RHP Aaron Nola 5-2, 3.90

OLE MISS

LF Tanner Mathis .339

3B Andrew Mistone .252

2B Alex Yarbrough .400

33 Matt Snyder .348

C Will Allen .338

DH Zach Kirksey .299

CF Auston Bousfield .274

SS Austin Anderson .232

RF Will Jamison .254

LHP Dylan Chavez 3-3, 3.27