Ole Miss Completes Sweep Of No. 24 Florida
Head homers and records his 12th save to set a new Ole Miss single-season record.


May 11, 2003


OXFORD, Miss. - Freshman left-hander Stephen Head recorded his 12th save of the year to set a new Ole Miss single-season record and also went 2-for-4 with a solo home run to lead Ole Miss to a 4-2 win and complete a three-game sweep of No. 24 Florida Sunday afternoon, in front of 2,003 at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

With the win, the Rebels improved to a season-high 11 games over the .500-mark at 32-21. Ole Miss also moved to 16-11 in the Southeastern Conference and clinched a berth to the SEC Tournament, scheduled for May 21-25 in Hoover, Ala.

The loss was Florida's 10th straight in Oxford dating back to 1997 and marked the third straight series the Gators have been swept by the Rebels at Swayze Field. Ole Miss also swept Florida in Oxford in 1999 and 2001. Sunday's loss also dropped the Gators, 32-18-1 overall and 11-15-1 in the SEC, 1.5 games behind Tennessee for the eighth and final spot to the SEC Tournament, as the Volunteers defeated Arkansas 4-3 in 11 innings at Knoxville.

Head entered the game in relief of starter Mark Holliman in the eighth inning, with Ole Miss leading 3-0, after Jonathan Tucker reached on an error to open the inning. Head would struggle in the eighth, allowing one hit and two walks as the Gators plated two runs to pull within 3-2.

However, he would give Ole Miss an insurance run in the eighth with a two-out solo home run and then worked a scoreless ninth to surpass Justin Huisman's Ole Miss single-season record of 11 saves, set in 2000.

Holliman (4-5) limited Florida to one unearned run on four hits and four walks, while striking out six in seven innings to earn the win.

Florida starter Mike Pete (3-2) suffered the loss. He was charged with two runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out one in 3 1/3 innings.

Charlie Waite went 3-for-4 with an RBI as Ole Miss out-hit Florida 10-6 on the afternoon.

Jeff Corsaletti and Brian Rose had two hits each for the Gators.

Ole Miss took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Jonathan Swearingen scored on a RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Chad Sterbens, and Sterbens later scored on an RBI single by Charlie Waite.

The Rebels added another run in the seventh on a triple by Matt Tolbert that scored pinch-runner Matt Mossberg.

Ole Miss will conclude its regular season with a three-game series at Auburn, beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m., at Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park.

Ole Miss 4, No. 24 Florida 2 (May 11, 2003 at Oxford, Miss.)
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Florida 000 000 020 - 2 6 1 (32-18-1, 11-15-1 SEC)
Ole Miss 000 200 11x - 4 10 1 (32-21, 16-11 SEC)
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Pitchers: Florida - Pete; O'Day(4); Goldfarb(5); Falkenbach(5). Ole Miss - M. Holliman;
Stephen Head(8).
Win-M. Holliman(4-5) Save-Stephen Head(12) Loss-Pete(3-2) T-2:26 A-2003
HR UM - Stephen Head (6).
Game notes:
NATIONAL RANKINGS: FLA- #24 SW/ESPN
HR DISTANCES: Head (UM) 361-8th
FLA: 10 straight losses in Oxford.
UM: Head sets UM single-season saves record; 12-3 vs. SEC East in 2003.
M. Holliman faced 1 batter in the 8th.
Game: UM0511