Ole Miss dug deep to pull even with LSU, then went deep to surge ahead.

Zach Kirksey homered during a three-run rally that tied the game, then Auston Bousfield hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning to help Ole Miss pull away and beat LSU 7-4 on Saturday.

The Rebels, who lost in 13 innings Friday night, won for the third time in four games and evened this series at a game apiece. The finale is today at 1:30 p.m. in Oxford.

Kirksey finished the game 2-for-3, and Tanner Mathis was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco, however, said the key to victory was his bullpen.

After starter Mike Mayers was roughed up for four runs in the fourth inning, three relievers combined to shut out LSU (37-11, 15-8 Southeastern Conference) the rest of the way.

Tanner Bailey replaced Mayers following a leadoff single in the fifth inning and pitched two scoreless frames for the win. Chris Ellis threw the seventh, and Brett Huber worked the eighth and ninth for his eighth save of the season.

The relievers combined for five strikeouts, allowed three hits and one walk.

“Today a lot of the headlines will o to the offense with 12 hits and seven runs,” Mike Bianco said. “But, it was big for our pitchers to put up zeroes after giving four runs in the fourth. Tanner (Bailey) came in and got a double play and that kept the momentum on our side. We were able to come back, score three and tie it up. The bullpen was great.”

JaCoby Jones’ two-run single keyed the four-run fourth inning for LSU that put Mayers on the ropes. Jones’ hit put the Tigers ahead 4-1.

Ole Miss (31-17, 11-12), responed in the bottom half. Kirksey hit a solo home run, then Bousfield drew a walk and Austin Anderson singled to put runners at first and second with two outs. Mathis singled through the right side to bring in a run, and Andrew Mistone followed with an infield hit to tie the game at 4.

In the sixth, Mathis had another big hit. He followed Will Jamison’s one-out double with an RBI single to center to break the tie and put the Rebels ahead 5-4.

Bousfield’s two-run homer off the left field foul pole in the seventh inning gave Ole Miss some breathing room.