Hogs drop series opener to Rebels

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ole Miss right-hander Dylan DeLucia had Arkansas’ number all night.

He worked into the eighth inning of Friday’s series opener, leaving with a 4-2 lead, which the Rebels held onto for the victory, as the Hogs dropped their second consecutive Friday night contest.

Arkansas leadoff batters singled in each of the first three innings, but not once were the Hogs able to score. Of the five hits they recorded in the early innings, one was doubled off, one was thrown out after rounding first base too hard, one was caught stealing and one was ruled out on a batter interference call.

Senior right-hander Connor Noland was able to keep the Rebels off the board for three innings, but they got to him in the fourth. Left fielder Kevin Graham led off with a double and scored on a single by designated hitter Kemp Alderman.

Ole Miss quadrupled its lead in the fifth with four hits in a five-batter stretch. First baseman Tim Elko made it 2-0 with a two-out double, and Graham drove in two more runs with a single. DeLucia retired eight consecutive batters between the fourth and sixth innings while the Rebels extended their lead.

Noland made it through eight frames, finishing his night with 11 hits, four runs and four walks allowed, and three strikeouts.

With nobody out and a runner on first in the bottom of the eighth, senior center fielder Braydon Webb took DeLucia deep to left field to cut the deficit in half. Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco yanked DeLucia in favor of righty Brandon Johnson, who retired the next six Hogs in order to earn his fifth save of the year.

The Razorbacks and Rebels are set to square off again at 7 p.m. Saturday night. Arkansas freshman left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith is in line for the start, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.