OXFORD, Miss. – A two-out single by Brayden Randle in the eighth inning Sunday afternoon proved to be the decisive moment as Ole Miss defeated Missouri State 3-2 in the series finale at Swayze Field.
The Rebels (8-0) jumped ahead early with a home run, but Missouri State (3-4) starter Owen Slater settled in, allowing just one hit over the next four innings. Slater struck out four batters and departed the game with a 2-1 lead, thanks to a solo home run by Curry Sutherland in the second inning and a run scored by Logan Fyffe in the fifth following a leadoff double.
Tyler Charlton entered the game in relief of Slater in the fifth, effectively shutting down the Ole Miss offense for 3.1 innings. He recorded three strikeouts, but yielded a solo home run in the seventh, tying the score at 2-2.
The game-winning run came in the eighth inning when Ole Miss smacked a one-out double off Brock Lucas (0-2). Randle then delivered the crucial hit, bringing the runner home. Missouri State had an opportunity to respond in the ninth, but Jax Ryan was left stranded on second base after hitting a one-out double.
Ryan led the Bears offensively with two hits. The Missouri State pitching staff held Ole Miss to just five hits, while Rebel pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts and issued only one walk.
The Bears will play their home opener Tuesday at 3 p.m. Against Oral Roberts at Hammons Field. They will then host Little Rock for a three-game series from February 27th to March 1st. Tickets to all home games are available here.
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