It was a rare loss for Ole Miss, made even rarer by how it happened.

The Rebels managed only four hits against South Carolina ace Blake Cooper on Friday night and were shut out for the first time in nearly two years, 5-0, in the opener of a three-game series in Columbia, S.C.

The last time the Rebels were shut out was against Missouri in the NCAA Coral Gables Regional on May 30, 2008. It was also the first time in five Southeastern Conference series this season that Ole Miss (23-12, 7-6 SEC) lost the opening game.

Cooper struck out 10 and walked only one in his complete game victory. Like the Rebels, South Carolina (27-7, 10-3) struggled against the opposing team’s ace.

Drew Pomeranz struck out 10, allowed two hits and no runs in seven innings, then the Gamecocks got to the bullpen. Two walks, an error and a wild pitch brought in a run before Adrian Morales laced a bases-clearing double to right center to put Carolina ahead 4-0 in the eighth. Morales then scored on an RBI triple by Kyle Enders.

Ole Miss reliever Trent Rothlin walked the first batter in the eighth, but was immediately pulled. He was still charged with the loss. Brett Huber allowed two hits and two walks, uncorked the wild pitch and gave up four unearned runs.

“South Carolina was able to get the big hit and the timely hit tonight,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said. “It’s disappointing to have your ace go out and put up that many zeros and not come away with more. We had the bases loaded and didn’t come up with the hit. In a game like the one played tonight, you have to do that.”