JONESBORO, Ark. — Ole Miss’ annual journey to Jonesboro, Arkansas, was hardly a fun little midweek road trip.

Bryan Ayers and Tyler Zuber combined on a five-hit shutout as Arkansas State beat Ole Miss 5-0 Tuesday night.

Arkansas State (24-26) beat the Rebels (31-22) for just the second time in 10 meetings. The teams have played a home-and-home series each of the last 12 seasons, and Ole Miss won 16-4 earlier this year in Oxford.

This time, however, they had no answer for the Red Wolves’ pitching.

Ayers (3-5) scattered four hits over seven innings, struck out four and walked one. Zuber pitched the last two innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three, to close out Arkansas State’s second shutout in three games.

Ole Miss was shut out for the third time this season, and the first time since March 8 against Georgia State.
Arkansas State jumped on the Rebels by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jeremy Brown drove in the first run with a double down the right field line and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Bakamus. Alex Howard also had an RBI double.

Howard also had an RBI single in the third inning. He finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Brown was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Ole Miss starter Sean Johnson gave up four runs in 3 1/3 innings. He allowed five hits and two walks. Reliever Greer Holston allowed one run on one hit and a walk in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out six.

Ole Miss will finish the regular season with a road series at Auburn beginning Thursday night.