Sixth inning dooms Rebels as they fall on the road to No. 2 A&M
Published 12:01 pm Friday, May 20, 2016
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Kicking off a series against the No. 2 team in the country, No. 6 Ole Miss could not overcome a five-run sixth inning by the opposition as Texas A&M claimed a 6-1 win. The setback was the first series-opening loss in the past seven Southeastern Conference series for the Rebels (39-15, 17-11).
Sophomore Will Golsan continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-4 to increase his hitting streak to 12 games. Junior Colby Bortles hit his seventh home run of the season, while classmate J.B. Woodman added his 12th double of 2016.
Rebel ace Brady Bramlett (7-3) suffered his first loss in seven starts. The redshirt junior allowed four runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. Freshman Andy Pagnozzi had another impressive relief outing, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and retiring eight of the 10 batters he faced.
Starting pitcher Brigham Hill (7-1) allowed just one run on four hits in 7.0 innings of work to earn the victory. J.B. Moss and Jonathan Moroney led the Aggies (40-12, 19-9 SEC) at the plate with three hits apiece. Maroney and Hunter Melton each knocked in a pair of runs, while Nick Choruby tallied two hits and two runs.
Texas A&M broke the game open with five runs in the sixth. The Aggies used six hits, including two doubles, to take a 6-1 lead. With two runners on base, Pagnozzi entered the game and got the Rebels out of the inning by forcing back-to-back groundouts, but the damage was done with the home team creating a five-run cushion.
Ole Miss will look to even the series tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT. Sophomore left-hander David Parkinson will start for the Rebels, squaring off against Texas A&M sophomore Turner Larkins.