BOX SCORE

OXFORD, Miss. -- In front of the largest Opening Day crowd in the 68-year history of Ole Miss baseball, FIU allowed five early runs and lost its season opener 9-2 to the No. 24 Rebels. With the help of two Panther errors, Ole Miss scored one run in the first inning and four runs in the second inning to take control of the game in front of 10,129 fans at Swayze Field.

The Rebels got consecutive singles from Errol Robinson and J.B. Woodman off FIU starter Andres Nunez (0-1) in the bottom of the first inning to set up their first run, which came home on an RBI ground out by Colby Bortles, the younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles. Nunez did a good job of damage control in the first because the Rebels had runners at second and third base with none out when Bortles came to the plate. Nunez struck out Henri Lartigue and induced Will Golsan to ground out to quell the threat.

Nunez wasn't as fortunate in the bottom of the second inning. Tate Blackman led off the frame with a solo home run to left, which set off the Swayze Showers -- Ole Miss fans in the outfield bleachers throw their draft beers in the air after each Rebel home run. Two walks, two errors and a sacrifice fly later and the Rebels cashed in with four runs to grab a 5-0 lead.

After getting just a double by Jack Schaaf off the left field wall and a walk by Zach Files off Rebels starter Brady Bramlett (1-0) over five innings, the Panthers scored twice in the top of the sixth inning. 

With FIU trailing 9-0 to start the sixth, Kenny Meimerstorf led off with a walk and Irving Lopez followed with a double down the right field line. Schaaf drove in the first FIU run with a fielder's choice ground out. JC Escarra singled to right to bring home the second FIU run.

Nunez lasted four innings, allowed six hits, five earned runs, three walks and struck out two. Bramlett allowed one hit, one walk and struck out six in five innings of work.

The Panthers and Rebels resume the series Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The game and all FIU games this season can be heard on the FIU Sports Radio Network. Pete Pelegrin will have the call beginning at 2:25 p.m.