By By Chris Kieffer / special to The Star
May 13, 2002
OXFORD Seven was the magic number for the Arkansas baseball team this weekend.
For the second day in a row, the Razorbacks (28-21, 11-13) used a seventh inning onslaught to defeat 12th ranked Ole Miss (35-16, 14-13). Sunday, it was a five-run seventh that helped Arkansas to a 10-8 victory and a three-game sweep in front of 1,912 at Swayze Field.
Arkansas designated hitter Andrew Wishy said that the Razorbacks fed off of one another.
Arkansas, who entered the game hitting .270, collected 18 hits Sunday. Head coach Norm DeBriyn said the Razorbacks had timely hitting and a little luck.
The Razorbacks bullpen also came through big, twice.
Arkansas was forced to go to the pen in the first inning. Ole Miss scored three first runs and had the bases loaded with two outs against Arkansas starter Layne Berry.
Berry was then replaced by Josh Glynn (2-0), who got Charlie Waite to ground out to end the inning. Berry threw 5.1 consecutive scoreless innings, allowing Arkansas to rally to an 8-3 lead.
Ole Miss scored a run and put runners on the corners with no outs against Berry in the seventh. Josh Merryman then came in for the Razorbacks and stopped that threat, retiring the first six hitters he faced.
Trailing 10-4, Ole Miss mounted a ninth inning rally.
Chad Sterbens led off with a single and Burney Hutchinson homered. Seth Smith later hit a two-out, two-RBI single to send the tying run to the plate. Clint Farrar then lined out to first to end the game.
The Rebels seemed to take control of the game with three runs in the first.
A single, two hit batsmen, and a fielder's choice loaded the bases. Josh Christian was then walked, allowing Jonathan Swearingen to score. Dustin Cliburn singled-in Hutchinson and Drew Rogers scored on Smith's sacrifice fly.
Arkansas came right back with three runs in the third.
The Razorback rally was just another example of the success Arkansas has had against Ole Miss lately. Arkansas has won the last seven series and 17 of its last 21 games against Ole Miss.
Sterbens, who had four hits, extended his SEC hitting streak to 27 games. He also has a 17-game hitting streak and hit .571 for the weekend.
J.R. Pickens (7-3) picked up the loss for Ole Miss. Pickens gave up four runs on ten hits in six innings.
With the victory, Arkansas moved a half-game ahead of Mississippi State for the eight and final spot in the SEC Tournament. Ole Miss still needs one more win to clinch a spot in the tournament.
Ole Miss travels to Jonesboro, Ark. today to play Arkansas State. The game is set for 6:30 p.m.