OXFORD — A big inning netted Ole Miss a big win Friday.

J.B. Woodman hit a two-run home run in the first inning, and the Rebels added four more in the fourth before hanging on to beat second-ranked Louisville 6-5 in the opener of a three-game series at Swayze Field.

It was the fifth consecutive win to start the season for Ole Miss, and one that is sure to help its RPI ranking down the line. Ole Miss is off to a 5-0 start for the third time in the past four seasons.

Brady Bramlett struck out eight batters in five innings and got the win, but he also gave up six hits and four walks.

Louisville had 10 hits, but struck out 12 times and left 11 runners on base.

Bramlett didn’t struggle with his control as much as Louisville starter Kyle Funkhouser, though. Funkhouser walked seven batters — including three with the bases loaded in the fourth inning — and gave up six earned runs.

The big fourth inning gave Ole Miss a 6-1 lead, and they needed the cushion when Louisville (4-1) mounted its comeback.

Blake Tiberi delivered an RBI double in the fifth inning, and Corey Ray had one in the eighth. Will Smith brought in another run with a ground out, and the Cardinals got one more on a wild pitch.

They had the tying run at second after Ray’s double, but Ole Miss closer Wyatt Short got out of the inning with a fly out and a strikeout. He then got two strikeouts in the ninth to finish the game and earn his second save of the season.

Short pitched the last 1 2/3 innings. He allowed one hit and no walks, and struck out three.

Southern Miss 8, Northwestern St. 6

Storme Cooper’s two-run single keyed a five-run rally in the seventh inning that propelled Southern Miss to a series-opening win over Northwestern State on Friday night.

Daniel Keating hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give Southern Miss a 3-2 lead, then they blew it open in the seventh. Taylor Braley and Chuckie Robinson each had an RBI single in the seventh inning, Keating brought in another run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Cooper capped things off with his two-run single.

Dylan Burdeaux finished with three hits for Southern Miss (5-0), while Braley and Tim Lynch each had two hits and scored a run.

Matthew Alford went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored for Northwestern State (3-2).

LSU 6, Sacramento St. 0

Sophomore left-hander Jared Poche’ had eight strikeouts in six shutout innings, and LSU (4-1) blanked Sacramento State (3-2) in the opener of a weekend series in Baton Rouge.

Kramer Robertson and Beau Jordan each went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Tigers, and O’Neal Lochridge was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Alabama 2, North Dakota 1

Keith Holcombe delivered a walk-off RBI single to give Alabama (4-1) a victory over North Dakota (2-2) in the opener of a three-game series Friday in Tuscaloosa.

Each team had just four hits as the pitchers dominated.

North Dakota starter Zach Muckenhirn pitched into the ninth and struck out 12 batters while walking only one. Alabama’s Geoffrey Bramblett went eight innings, struck out six and walked two. Muckenhirn took the loss, while Bramblett got a no-decision.