BLOG: Hello from Ole Miss’ Oxford-University Stadium, where the Rebels (19-12 overall, 4-6 SEC) are set to host Georgia (17-14, 7-3) at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SportSouth. Last night the Rebels scored eight runs, but errors combined with an off night for staff ace Matt Crouse was too much to overcome.
TAKING THE MOUND: Ole Miss will send hard-throwing right-hander David Goforth to the mound today, fresh off of his first win of the season at LSU.
Despite Goforth’s 1-4 record, he’s played much better than a year ago and just hasn’t had the run support. In seven appearances, he has a 3.32 ERA and opponents are hitting .266 off of him. He has also walked 16 and struck out 28 in 43.1 innings of work while allowing 19 runs (16 earned) and 42 hits.
Taking the mound for Georgia will be Michael Palazzone. The junior right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA in seven appearances. He has boasts a stellar 34-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has allowed 44 hits in 46.1 innings of work. Opponents are hitting .243 off of him as well.
—STARTING LINEUPS —3
GEORGIA (17-14 overall, 7-3)
2B Levi Hyams .331 BA
LF Conor Welton .297
SS Kyle Farmer .241
CF Zach Cone .306
DH Brett DeLoach .265
1B Jonathan Hester .268
3B Curt Powell .273
C Joey Delmonico .275
RF Peter Verdin .217
RHP Michael Palazzone (4-1, 2.14 ERA)
OLE MISS (19-12, 4-6)
CF Tanner Mathis .355
SS Blake Newalu .303
2B Alex Yarbrough .333
1B Matt Smith .316
LF Matt Tracy .289
DH Matt Snyder .250
3B Preston Overbey .259
C Miles Hamblin .264
RF Jordan Poole .375
RHP David Goforth (1-4, 3.32)
—SCORING SUMMARY —
Georgia 3, Ole Miss 0 (TOP 2): Georgia put up a three spot in the second inning courtesy of two singles, one walk and a three-run double by Levi Hyams into the right field corner that scored Jonathan Hester, Joey Delmonico and Peter Verdin.
Georgia 3, Ole Miss 2 (BOTTOM 4): Ole Miss first baseman Matt Smith hit his first career homer against his home state team in the bottom of the fourth, a two-run shot that just dropped over the right field wall. The homer, Smith’s sixth of the season and 40th of his career, ties him with Brad Henderson (1996-1999) for second all-time in Ole Miss history.
Georgia 5, Ole Miss 2 (TOP 6): Georgia scored two runs in the top of the sixth off of three hits and a walk from Ole Miss pitchers David Goforth and R.J. Hively. A groundout from Hester scored UGA’s fourth run, while a single by Curt Powell scored the Dawgs’ fifth.
Georgia 5, Ole Miss 3 (BOTTOM 6): Blake Newalu hit his first home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth, a solo shot into Ole Miss’ bullpen.
Georgia 6, Ole Miss 3 (TOP 7): Georgia extended its lead again in the seventh courtesy of a chopper up the middle via a check swing from Brett DeLoach. Newalu was unable to make the play charging in and Hyams scored.
Georgia 7, Ole Miss 3 (TOP 8 ): A deep fly ball to center by Hyams scored Delmonico from third base.\
Georgia 8, Ole Miss 3 (TOP 9): Another sacrifice fly off the bat of Hester in the ninth scored Kyle Farmer easily from third base without a throw, tacking on Georgia’s eighth run of the day and 17th of the series.
Michael Palazzone earned the win for Georgia, allowing just three runs on eight hits in 9.0 innings while not issuing a walk and striking out one.
David Goforth was saddled with the loss, surrendering five runs on seven hits and two walks in 5.2 innings while striking out six.
Each of the three relief pitchers Ole Miss used also surrendered runs (R.J. Hively one in 0.2, Mike Mayers one in 0.2 and Brett Huber one in 2.0).
Today’s loss marks the third series loss in four this season for the Rebels (Series losses to LSU, Georgia and Alabama; Series win at Tennessee).
Tomorrow’s game is set for a 1:30 p.m. start. (April 9, 2011)
