OXFORD, Mississippi – Ole Miss’s Thomas Dillard hit a walk-off, two-run single in the bottom of the 11th inning as the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies dropped Thursday evening’s series opener to the No. 19 Rebels at Oxford-University Stadium.
Texas A&M led 3-0 going into the seventh-inning stretch and 4-3 heading to the bottom of the 11th, but were unable to secure the win.
Mikey Hoehner put the Aggies ahead in the top of the 11th. He drew a five-pitch walk to start the frame and advanced two bases on groundouts by WillFrizzell and Ty Coleman. Hoehner scored the go-ahead run when he touched home inches ahead of the tag by Ole Miss catcher Cooper on a wild pitch uncorked by Parker Caracci.
Aggie starter John Doxakis was left with no decision despite another sterling effort. He yielded three runs, just one earned, on five hits and five walks while striking out six in 7.0 innings.
Kasey Kalich failed to secure a save for just the second time in 2019. Attempting to close the door with a 3-1 lead, Kalich entered the game with runners on first and second and no outs in the top of the eighth. Both inherited runners scored and Kalich final line included 1.1 scoreless innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Joseph Menefee (3-1) was saddled with the loss. He yielded two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two in 2.0 innings of work.
Texas A&M aided the Rebel cause with three errors, that resulted in two unearned runs, and nine walks issued to Ole Miss batters.
Hoehner and Frizzell each logged two hits for the Aggies.
Texas A&M dropped to 30-13-1 overall and 11-7-1 in SEC action. Ole Miss improved to 28-15 overall and 11-8 in league play.
UP NEXT
The Aggies and Rebels return to Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field Friday at 6:32 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
T4 | With one out, Cam Blake was hit by a pitch and scooted to third on a hit-and-run single by Hoehner. Blake came home to score on a sharp grounder to third byFrizzell, who reached base when the first baseman muffed the throw. A&M 1, OM 0
T5 | Bryce Blaum poked a leadoff single to centerfield and with two outs Logan Foster was hit by a pitch. Blake threaded a single through the left side of the infield to knock in Blaum and Hoehner came around to score on a single to right-center by Hoehner. A&M 3, OM 0.
B7 | With one out, Michael Fitzsimmons hit a gapper to right-center for a pinch-hit single. Carl Gindl pinch-ran for Fitzimmons, moved to second on a groundout to second by Ryan Olenek and he scored on wild pitch and a throwing error by the Aggie catcher. A&M 3, OM 1.
B8 | Tyler Keenan drew a six-pitch base on balls to start the frame and Dillard followed with a bloop single to centerfield, sending the Aggies to the bullpen to spellDoxakis. Johnson sent a sac bunt back to pitcher Kalich in front of the mound, but Kalich’s throw sailed wide of third base allowing Keenan to score and putting two in scoring position. Cole Zabowski was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Kevin Graham plated Dillard on a sacrifice fly to tie the game before Kalichfanned a pair to end the frame. A&M 3, OM 3.
T11 | Hoehner drew a five pitch walk and moved to third on groundouts by Frizzell and Ty Coleman. Hoehner slid under the tag of the Ole Miss catcher to score on a wild pitch. A&M 4, OM 3.
B11 | With one out, Ryan Olenek singled to left-center and Grae Kessinger singled to second. Keenan was issued a walk on five pitches and Dillard ended the game with a single up the middle, plating two. OM 5, A&M 4.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics