Box Score

OXFORD, Miss. – Senior Ryker Walton struck out six and did not allow an earned run in his start, but Eastern Kentucky University lost to Mississippi, 8-0, on Friday in the opener of a 3-game set in Oxford.
 
Walton limited Ole Miss to one unearned run on just two hits over four innings.  He walked four and struck out six. 
 
In the third, Mitchell Sanford reached on a 2-base error and then scored on a single through the right side.  Walton loaded the bases with two walks but got out of the jam with a strikeout to end the frame.  After a lead-off walk in the fourth, Walton retired the next three on a strikeout and two fly balls.
 
The Rebels (4-1) began to pull away in the fifth off the EKU bullpen.  Campbell Smithwick's 2-out, 2-run single up the middle pushed the lead to 3-0.  Two more came home in the sixth and one in the seventh on a solo home run from Will Furniss to make it 6-0.  Ole Miss capped the scoring with two in the eighth.
 
Four Colonels (0-5) finished with one hit each.  Five EKU pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts but walked nine.
 
Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott struck out 10 in six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no walks.  Smithwick finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
 
The series will continue with a single game on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET.  The game will air live on the SEC Network+.