OXFORD — The Ole Miss hitters responded nicely after the Rebels fell behind early Tuesday against Tennessee-Martin.

So did the pitchers.

Tyler Keenan, Cole Zabowski and Thomas Dillard homered — all in the first three innings — and five relief pitchers combined to allow one run in the last 7 1/3 innings as the Rebels beat Tennessee-Martin 12-6.

Tennessee-Martin took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Keenan and Zabowski each hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to tie it, and Dillard belted a leadoff homer in the third to spark another five-run rally.

The third-inning outburst left Ole Miss with a 9-4 lead, and the bullpen took it from there.

After starter Jordan Fowler was rocked for five runs — only two of them earned — in the first two innings, five relievers shut down Tennessee-Martin (3-4) the rest of the way.

Ryan Olenek, Connor Green, Kaleb Hill, Taylor Broadway and Max Cioffi combined to allow one run and four hits in the last 7 2/3 innings. They struck out 10 batters and walked none.

Green (2-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings, the longest of any of the relievers, and was credited with the win.

Olenek, who started the game in center field, pitched one inning of relief and had two strikeouts in just the second pitching appearance of his four-year college career. He also did a lot of damage at the plate.

Olenek went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored. His first double, in the first inning, was followed by Zabowski’s game-tying home run. In the third inning he followed Dillard’s homer with another double and scored on single by Zabowski to give the Rebels (5-2) the lead for good.

Zabowski finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Chase Cockrell doubled and scored two runs, and Tim Elko was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored and Carl Gindl had four RBIs.

For Tennessee-Martin, Blake Davis went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and three RBIs. Jordan Stoner was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Mississippi State 17, Jackson State 4
Justin Foscue and Gilbert Marshall both homered, Jordan Westburg went 2-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and Mississippi State (7-1) used a big middle-inning surge to beat Jackson State (2-6).

Mississippi State led 5-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, then scored four runs in the sixth and eight in the seventh to turn the game into a rout.

Foscue finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Jake Mangum was 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and three runs scored.