Ole Miss tags 10-2 loss on Southeast Missouri State baseball team

In the first of two games against nationally-ranked Ole Miss, the Southeast Missouri State baseball team was unable to do what only ranked Louisville has done so far this season.

The No. 13 Rebels, whose only loss of the season came to the Cardinals on Feb. 27, defeated the visiting Redhawks 10-2 on Tuesday night at Swayze Field in Oxford, Mississippi, to improve to 11-1 on the season and extend its winning streak to six games.

Southeast (6-6) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Center fielder Dan Holst singled through the right side, extending his hit streak to 12 games. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on two-out base hit through the left side by shortstop Branden Boggetto.

The Redhawks maintained the lead until the bottom of the fourth inning.

Third baseman Colby Bortles led off the home half of the fourth with a double to left, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a single by catcher Henri Lartigue to tie it.

Starting pitcher Jacob Lawrence walked the next batter before being relieved by Jake Busiek with one out and runners on first and second. Busiek walked the only two batters he faced, driving in the go-ahead run.

Alex Siddle then took over on the mound for Busiek. Leadoff hitter and shortstop Errol Robinson hit a two-run single off Siddle to put the Rebels up 4-1 after four innings.

Southeast's final run came in the top of the fifth. Catcher Brian Lees hit a one-out single and scored on a double to left center by second baseman Trevor Ezell to make it 4-2.

A leadoff double by right fielder J.B. Woodman in the bottom of the fifth led to a couple of RBI singles to push Ole Miss' advantage to 6-2.

Designated hitter Michael Fitzsimmons hit a two-run home run to left off pitcher Dan Bergtholdt in the seventh. An error by left fielder Garrett Gandolfo allowed the Rebels' ninth run to score later in the frame.

Fitzsimmon hit an RBI double in the eighth for the final score.

Ole Miss outhit Southeast 13-8, with Robinson going 2 for 5, Lartigue and centerfielder Kyle Watson each going 2 for 3 and Fitzsimmons finishing 2 for 2.

Holst was the only Redhawk with multiple hits, going 2 for 4 in the game.

Lawrence (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Southeast, which used seven pitchers in the contest.

He allowed three earned runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout in 3 1/3 innings of work.

Ole Miss starter James McArthur (1-0) recorded the first win of his career. He gave up two earned runs on six hits in 5 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out six.

The Redhawks and Rebels conclude the two-game series on Wednesday with first pitch set for 4 p.m.