News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
The No. 9 Texas A&M baseball team came up on the short end of a 5-3 decision in Friday’s series opener against the No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels at Swayze Field.
The Aggies were doomed by free bases as they fell behind 3-0 through four innings. Ole Miss had batters reach on a walk and hit-by-pitch and come around to score in the first and second innings, respectively. The Rebels took advantage of a balk to tack on a run in the fourth.
Texas A&M (36-11, 15-9 SEC) chipped away with two runs in the top of the fifth, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The rally featured singles by Blake Binderup and Jorian Wilson to start the inning. Sawyer Farr plated a run with a fielder’s choice and he came around to score on a fielding error.
Ole Miss (33-17, 13-12 SEC) tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh with RBI singles by Will Furniss and Tristan Bissetta.
The Aggies loaded the bases in the eighth inning but eked out just one run on a Wilson fielder’s choice.
Making his start of the season, Ethan Darden (4-1) was saddled with the loss. He yielded two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one in 2.0 frames. Shane Sdao pitched 4.1 innings out of the bullpen, yielding two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five.
The first seven batters in the Aggies’ order each logged a hit, but no one managed a multi-hit game as A&M was haunted by nine runners left on base.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M and Ole Miss wrap up the series with a Saturday twin bill slated for 2 p.m. at Swayze Field.