Ole Miss will face Alabama in SEC Tournament

Ole Miss turned the end of its losing streak into a hiccup, and a rainout into a potential momentum boost heading into the postseason.

Errol Robinson and Will Golsan drove in two runs apiece, and Ole Miss roughed up Texas A&M early to take a 7-4 win in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday in Oxford.

The second game was rained out, which allowed Ole Miss (30-25, 15-14 Southeastern Conference) to take some positive momentum into the SEC Tournament after having a five-game winning streak snapped in Thursday’s series opener.

The Rebels won six of their last seven regular-season games to earn the No. 6 seed in the tournament. They’ll face No. 11 seed Alabama Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

Ole Miss also reached the 30-win mark for the 18th consecutive season.

Texas A&M (43-10, 18-10) is the No. 3 seed and will play either Ole Miss or Alabama on Wednesday morning. Texas A&M has lost three of its last five games, and is just 7-8 over its last 15, after starting the season 35-3.

Both of Saturday’s games were scheduled for seven innings, and neither side seemed to want to waste time getting out in front.

Mitchell Nau hit an RBI single in the first inning and Hunter Melton a solo home run in the second to stake Texas A&M to a 2-0 lead.

Ole Miss, though, struck for three runs in the second inning and three more in the third to take the lead for good. Golsan and Colby Bortles each had an RBI single in the second inning. Robinson drove in two with a base hit in the third, and Nic Perkins also had an RBI single.

Golsan drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to make it 7-2.

“Not striking out, putting the ball in play — just moving the ball and making things happen,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said.

Ryne Birk hit a two-run homer for the Aggies in the sixth to close the gap, but Ole Miss closer Wyatt Short got out of a minor jam and then retired the side in order in the seventh for his 10th save of the season.

Brady Bramlett (7-3) got the win. He pitched five innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out seven.

Ryan Hendrix (4-2) took the loss for Texas A&M. He allowed six runs on nine hits in just two-plus innings.