OXFORD, Miss. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears threatened in the top of the seventh but could not pull out the victory Tuesday afternoon. losing 2-1 to the No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Oxford-University Stadium at Swayze Field.
The Rebels (23-10) also took the nightcap 4-0 behind a 10-hit attack to sweep the doubleheader.
Ole Miss closer Brett Huber worked out his own jam in the top of the seventh in Game 1 to claim his seventh save. Senior Bryan Willson led off the top of the seventh with a single off Huber, who entered with a 2.70 earned-run average. Catcher Garrett Vail lined out to center field before pinch runner Nick Rougeau stole second as Garrett Brown struck out.
Huber then walked senior Blake Roberts, only his second walk allowed this season, to bring up pinch hitter Travis Snider. With two on and two out, Snider struck out to end the threat.
The Rebels (22-10) struck first, scoring a run in the first inning on an RBI single by Matt Snyder. UCA sophomore Jonathan Davis doubled into the left-field corner to lead off the fourth and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Ole Miss starter Sam Smith to tie the game at 1-1.
The Rebels answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth on a squeeze bunt by Austin Anderson but Davis saved another when he threw out Tanner Mathis at the plate. Mathis chose not to slide and instead ran into a waiting Garrett Vail two steps short of the plate for the third out.
Davis finished 2 for 2 for the Bears, who managed only three hits. Starter Bryce Biggerstaff went the distance, striking out 3, walking none and allowing 6 hits and 1 earned run.
Ole Miss tallied 10 hits against a combination of five UCA pitchers in the second game, scoring a single run in the first, two in the third and another in the fifth. Ole Miss reliever Chris Ellis struck out two, and after a single by Travis Snider, got a fielder’s choice for the final out in the seventh.
Catcher Michael Marietta had 2 of UCA’s 5 hits in the game, while Mathis was 3 for 3 fror the Rebels.
The Rebels improved to 4-1 in the overall series with the Bears.
UCA returns to Southland Conference play this weekend, hosting Nicholls State. Game times are 7 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Stadium.
