PEARL – When it came down to crunch time Tuesday night, the Ole Miss Rebels made the plays Southern Miss could not.

Evan Button scored on a sacrifice fly from Cody Overbeck in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 6-5 victory over the Golden Eagles in front of 6,217 at Trustmark Park.

Button led off the ninth with a single. Former Vicksburg High standout Jordan Henry bunted – something the Eagles had trouble doing – and the throw to second to get Button on a force was late, putting runners on first and second with no outs for junior Justin Henry.

&#8220I was planning to just get it down and walk back to the dugout,” Jordan Henry said. &#8220Fortunately that didn’t happen and I got to first, then moved to second when Justin got a great bunt down.”

Justin Henry beat the throw to first on his bunt to load the bases for Cozart.

&#8220Jordan got down a great bunt and I was able to get one down and beat out the throw. I think that put them in a more difficult position,” Justin Henry said.

Southern Miss reliever Patrick Ezell, the fourth Golden Eagle pitcher, struck out Cozart before Overbeck lofted a fly ball to right field to score Button and end a game that saw the Eagles (17-9) hold the lead for most of the game.

&#8220It’s disappointing,” Southern Miss coach Corky Palmer said. &#8220Every game we are in is going to be close and down to the wire.”

Justin Henry went 3-for-4, including a double, to lead the Rebels’ 12-hit attack. Andrew Clark, Alex Kliman and Logan Power each had two hits for Ole Miss and were involved in a rare power outburst at a ballpark known for keeping would-be home runs in the park.

&#8220We weren’t hitting many home runs in batting practice and we were thinking, ‘this place is a graveyard,’” Justin Henry said. &#8220Then the game starts, the wind dies down, they hit a bomb and we hit three. I think it was one of those things that you’re maybe not as worried about hitting home runs because you don’t think you can do it.”

Southern Miss scored two in the third inning on a two-run blast from Trey Sutton and added a run in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead and chase Ole Miss starter Nathan Baker. But the Rebels (19-8), behind home runs from Clark, Power and Kliman, took a 4-3 lead going into the fifth.

Southern Miss scored two more in the fifth to lead by one and held Ole Miss scoreless until the eighth. The Rebels scored once in the eighth to tie it, then got out of a ninth-inning jam.

Brian Dozier led off the ninth with a single, something the Golden Eagles had done in every inning except the first and second. With no outs, James Ewing attempted a bunt, but the low liner was snagged by Clark at first base to keep Dozier from advancing. Trey Cuevas followed with a shot that ricocheted off pitcher Cody Satterwhite directly to Clark for the second out. Satterwhite then fanned Luke Adkins to end the threat.

&#8220We have a problem driving in runs, have all year long,” Palmer said. &#8220It’s something we have to get better at.”

Sutton and Dozier each had two hits for Southern Miss. Ole Miss pitchers walked six and threw six wild pitches.

It was the first meeting this season between the two in-state teams. They will battle again on April 11 in Hattiesburg.

&#8220Any time you can beat an instate rival it’s a big win for the program,” Justin Henry said. &#8220It’s a whole lot of fun coming down here playing in Jackson. I don’t know how many this thing holds, but it was packed tonight and a lot of fun.”