news
Saturday was not Huber's best day.
After giving up an inning-opening single, Huber surrendered a two-out walk-off home run with two strikes in the bottom of the ninth to give Alabama a 4-3 win.
"I don't really know what to say after that," Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. "It was a great-pitched game by both sides and defended very well by both sides."
Losing in walk-off fashion dealt a blow to the Rebels' psyche.
"It's frustrating," Bianco said. "It hurts to be on this side of it, and you play to be on that side of it. We were a pitch away from being on that side of it."
The deciding third game starts today at 1:05 p.m.
Saturday was a tough day offensively for Ole Miss (16-7, 2-3 SEC), never able to produce the offense the Rebels need to win. Ole Miss tallied four hits and two runs against the Crimson Tide (9-14, 1-4 SEC), compared to season averages of over 12 hits and nine runs in Rebel wins.
The Rebels had the misfortune of running into Alabama freshman starting pitcher Justin Kamplain's best performance of the year, pitching seven innings while gving up three hits and striking out six batters.
"He kept us off balance," Bianco said. "He kept the ball in the zone with all three pitches. He made it tough for the offense. Our approach early wasn't a good one."
One out away
Kamplain was barely able to outduel Ole Miss starter R.J. Hively, who pitched eight innings and gave up four hits in a no decision outing.
"Not only did he pitch great, but he pitched with a lot of pressure on him," Bianco said. "There's a difference. Sometimes you're rolling, and you've got the lead and cruising out there, and then there are times when every pitch is about the ballgame."
Bianco added, "Every walk, error is important and even with the pitch count down, that wore him out. He knew and smiled at me. He pitched a great game. Once again, we're an out away."
Today, Ole Miss will send Mike Mayers (2-2, 3.34) against Bama's Jon Keller (0-0, 3.38).