OXFORD — Will Ethridge lowered his earned-run average to 0.35 as Ole Miss edged Alabama 1-0 Friday night to open SEC play.

Ethridge pitched six innings, surrendering just three hits and four walks while striking out nine. Cole Zabowski finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the Rebels with a home run, the game’s lone score.

Sam Finnerty suffered the loss for Alabama, given cup one run on four hits and one walk while striking out four. Morgan McCullough had a double for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama (16-3, 0-1) and Ole Miss (13-5, 1-0) will square off again at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the second game of the weekend series.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 6, FLORIDA 5

GAINSVILLE — Justin Foscue was 2-for5 with a home run as the Bulldogs edged the Gators to begin SEC play.

Jake Magnum finished 2-for-5 with a double, and Tanner Allen and Elijah MacNamee were both 2-for-5. MacNamee also had a double.

Ethan Small pitched six innings, surrendering one run on two hits and three walks while striking out 11 for Mississippi State. Jared Liebelt pitched a scoreless seventh for the Bulldogs, Colby White gave up one run on two hits in the eighth inning, and Cole Gordon ran into some trouble in the ninth, yielding three runs on two hits and a walk to close it out for the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State (17-1, 1-0) and Florida (14-6, 0-1) will play Game 2 of the weekend series at 1 p.m. Saturday.

SOUTHERN MISS 12, LOUISIANA TECH 9

RUSTON, La. — Hunter Slater was 3-for-6 with two home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored for the Golden Eagles as they began Conference USA play with a win against Louisiana Tech.

Matthew Guidry went 2-for-5 for the Golden Eagles, and Erick Hoard was 2-for-3. Matt Wallner finished 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored for Southern Miss, and Brant Blaylock was 2-for-5 with three RBIs. 

Southern Miss pitching combined to give up seven earned runs to Louisiana Tech. Walker Powell got the start for the Golden Eagles and went just two innings, giving up five runs on six hits and one walk.

The Golden Eagles (9-6, 1-0) and Louisiana Tech (11-6, 0-1) will play again at 2 p.m. Saturday.