Next Game: Ole Miss 5/19/2018 | 1 p.m. SEC Network+

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – On Senior Night, Alabama starter Jake Walters tossed a complete game shutout to lead the Crimson Tide to a 3-0 win over fourth-ranked Ole Miss. The victory evens the weekend series up and moves the Tide to 27-28 overall, 8-21 in Southeastern Conference play.

"It was a great win for our team tonight," said Alabama head coach Brad Bohannon . "We beat a really good Ole Miss team. It was a little extra special on Senior Night, having all those seniors in the lineup; so many of those guys made big contributions today. Connor Short played some good defense and got a couple big knocks. Jake (Walters) was outstanding. You're always happy for the kids when they win, but just a little extra happy tonight."

Walters (4-5) was sensational in the final start of his Alabama career, posting his first career complete game shutout. The senior allowed only four hits and walked two batters while striking out seven across the nine-inning effort. Walters finishes his time at UA tied for the Alabama career record for games started with 52 and totaled 292 strikeouts, good for third all-time.

"It's hard to lose when you go nine innings without giving up a run," Bohannon added. "Jake has had some really good outings this year and has really gotten better at pitching deeper into the game. He was able to get some early contact out of the Ole Miss hitters which allowed him to get to the ninth instead of the seventh. He was awesome."

The two teams went scoreless until the sixth inning when Alabama scored game's first run to take a 1-0 lead. Junior Keith Holcombe started things with a leadoff single to left before advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. Senior Chandler Avant followed with a single of his own to put runners on the corners. In the next at-bat, Avant looked to steal second and got in a rundown, with Holcombe staying alert and taking home during the sequence to give the Tide its first run of the night.

Ole Miss was kept quiet on offense until the top of the eighth. The Rebels threatened with a leadoff double and a pair of hit-by-pitches to load the bases with one down. Walters would battle through the tough situation, using a strikeout and a flyout to right to strand the tying and go-ahead runs on base and escape the bases-loaded jam.

The Tide responded in the bottom half of the inning, adding a pair of insurance runs to widen the margin to 3-0 for Walters. With one down in the frame, Avant and junior Matt Malkin reached on back-to-back walks before Ole Miss went to the bullpen. In the next at-bat, junior Chandler Taylor greeted the new arm with an RBI-double to left-center to score one and put two in scoring position. Senior Hunter Alexander followed with a sacrifice fly to right to plate the second run of the inning and put the Tide in front by three.

Avant finished the night 2-for-3 on the way to his team-leading 21st multi-hit effort of the season. The Tide second baseman added one run, a walk and a stolen base as part of Alabama's double steal with Holcombe in the sixth. Matching Avant in hits was fellow senior Connor Short , with the Hoover native wrapping up at 2-for-3.

The two teams will decide the series on Saturday afternoon. Game three is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT first pitch with redshirt freshman Garret Rukes , a lefty, getting the nod for the Tide while the Rebels counter with junior right-hander James McArthur. The regular-season finale can be seen live on SEC Network+.

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