Home Runs Lift Ole Miss Past Vanderbilt, 3-0

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A solo home run by Charlie Babineaux and a two-run blast by Matt Tolbert lifted Ole Miss past Vanderbilt, 3-0, Saturday, March 22, in front of 1,512 fans at Hawkins Field. The win pulls the Rebels (14-7, 4-1 SEC) even with the Commodores (13-9, 2-3 SEC) in the three-game Southeastern Conference series.

Babineaux's second long ball of the season came off Vanderbilt starter Ryan Mullins (1-3) with one out in the top of the fifth inning and broke a scoreless tie. Tolbert, who finished the day 3-for-4, provided the Rebels with valuable insurance runs in the ninth when his first home run of the season hugged inside the right-field foul pole. Bryce Morrison, who singled with one out, also scored on the Tolbert home run.

Ole Miss starter T.J. Beam (3-0) earned the win. He struck out eight and scattered five hits and two walks in 7.2 innings of work. Rebel reliever Stephen Head earned his first save of the season, striking out two without allowing a hit in 1.1 innings.

Scheduled to start on Sunday, Mullins was moved up a day, replacing Jeremy Sowers who will start in Sunday's series finale. Mullins struck out four and scattered six hits, an earned run and one walk.

Vanderbilt, who managed five hits off Rebel pitching, suffered its fourth shutout loss this season. Cesar Nicolas went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.

The rubber match of the three game series is Sunday at 1 p.m. Sowers (0-2, 2.97 ERA) will battle against Ole Miss left-hander Eric Fowler (0-1, 3.48 ERA).