Ole Miss can't take advantage of scoring chances in Game 2 loss vs. Mississippi State
OXFORD – Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco felt like the Rebels had chances Saturday afternoon against No. 6 Mississippi State. For the second straight day, Ole Miss wasn’t able to make the most of the chances it did get.
The No. 18 Rebels went 3 for 19 with runners on base Saturday – and 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position – in a 6-1 loss to the Bulldogs at Swayze Field as Mississippi State clinched the three-game series between the teams. Ole Miss (19-9, 3-5 SEC) is 4 for 25 with runners on base through two games in the series, both victories for the Bulldogs (23-4, 6-2).
Ole Miss stranded 11 runners Saturday. All six of the Rebels' hits in the game were singles. Mississippi State starter Tomas Valincius held the Rebels to two hits and to 1 for 10 with runners on base in five innings.
He struck out nine batters and made 90 pitches. “We knew he was really good. And he is and he was.
But we blew some opportunities,” Bianco said. “We last night talked about some good fortune and where balls found holes for them. We didn’t give ourselves that opportunity … Had opportunities to just move the ball and maybe have some good fortune yourself, and we didn’t.