OXFORD, Miss. — No. 16 Ole Miss jumped out to an early lead Friday night with four runs on four hits in the first inning and went on to an 11-5 Southeastern Conference victory against No. 24 Kentucky in front of 7,676 at Swayze Field.

The Rebels evened the series at a game apiece and the teams will play the rubber game, weather permitting, at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. There's a 70 percent chance of rain.

Mississippi improved to 31-13 overall and 11-9 in the SEC. Kentucky fell to 25-17 and 8-12.

The Cats answered with three runs in second inning, but a two-run homer in third got the Rebels rolling again.

UK starter Jerad Grundy (5-5) worked 52⁄3 innings, allowing 13 hits and nine runs, walking two and striking out two.

UK totaled three hits with the first one coming from sophomore Max Kuhn in UK's three-run second inning and Kyle Barrett adding an opposite-field single in the eighth.

Ole Miss starter Mike Mayers (3-4) went six innings, allowing just an infield single and three runs — one earned — and struck out eight.

Kentucky at Mississippi

When: 3:15 p.m.

Pitchers: UK, Littrell (4-3) vs. Mississippi, Smith (2-0)

Radio: WLAP-AM 630