The script for Liam Doyle's return to Oxford couldn't have been written better.

The Tennessee starting left-handed pitcher, who transferred from Ole Miss this past offseason, threw a masterclass on his old turf, nearly going the distance and headlining the No. 5 Vols' 3-2 triumph of the No. 6 Rebels Friday night at Swayze Field

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Tennessee (30-4, 10-3 SEC) takes a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.

Doyle (6-1) allowed three hits and tied a career high in strikeouts with 14 in 111 pitches and a career-long 8.1 innings of work. One of his few blemishes was a two-out, two-run home run from Austin Fawley in the fifth inning that cut the Vols' lead to one.

Doyle recovered to hold off the Rebels (26-8, 8-5) over the next three innings before getting pulled with a runner on and one out in the ninth. Relievers Nate Snead and Dylan Loy closed it out in the ninth with two on and the winning run on first.

Gavin Kilen in his return from injury after one at-bat in the previous 11 games, went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, while Manny Marin was 1-for-4 with two RBI.

Liam Doyle was booed as he made his way to the mound in the home half of the first inning. Then he sent Ole Miss down in order, tossing a couple of strike outs to end the frame.

Andrew Fischer and Dalton Bargo drew back-to-back walks to start the second and put two runners on with no outs. Both moved into scoring position off a Reese Chapman bunt in the next at-bat, then Manny Marin drove them both in on a double down the line in left and Tennessee led 2-0 early.

Rebels' starter Hunter Elliot got out of the inning without further damage, but the Ole Miss lineup still didn't have answers for Doyle in the second, going 1-2-3 for the second time.

Gavin Kilen singled to right with one out in the third and Fischer drew his second walk to two down. But the Vols weren't able to take advantage this time as Bargo popped up to short to hold the lead at two runs.

It was no matter, at last in the third. Doyle tossed his fourth, fifth and sixth strikeouts that frame, setting the Rebels down in order for the third time in as many innings.

Chapman wore a pitch to start the fourth to give Tennessee a baserunner for the third-straight inning, and again with no outs, but the Vols came away empty-handed.

Back to the top of the order in the bottom fourth, Luke Hill got the first hit off of Doyle with a single to short. A wild pitch moved him over to second and into scoring position to give Ole Miss its first scoring threat.

Doyle threw three-straight punch-outs in response, putting his total up to nine through four innings and leaving the runner stranded and the Rebels still scoreless.

Tennessee again posted runners in the fifth after Dean Curley walked and Kilen doubled to right. It set up Hunter Ensley for a ground-out RBI to score Curley and stretch the Vols' lead to 3-0.

Bargo struck out and Kilen was stranded at second to prevent Tennessee from adding anymore and Doyle looked like he was going to cruise through another inning in the bottom fifth with two outs before Austin Fawley homered to left to trim the Vols' lead to 3-2.

Looking to answer in the sixth, Chapman led off with a single, but a fly out, ground out and strikeout followed and the Vols were left clinging to their one-run lead heading into the bottom sixth.

Doyle came back out and delivered in the sixth, ending the frame quickly with two ground outs and a fly out to keep Tennessee in front.

Doyle continued to preserve the lead in the seventh, tossing back-to-back strikeouts as part of another 1-2-3 inning to leave the Ole Miss reeling.

The Vols were still in need of some insurance, though, and Fischer, who had walked twice but had otherwise had a quiet night at the plate, doubled to left to lead off the eighth. Mason Morris, the Rebels' reliever that entered in the fifth, didn't allow another hit in the frame.

Fawley, the hero of the fifth inning, singled up the middle with one out in the bottom eighth, trying to put together an Ole Miss rally. Getting to Doyle again proved to be difficult though. Two more strikeouts left the Rebels frustrated again and Tennessee still in the lead.

The Vols couldn't get anything going in the ninth, and Doyle trotted back to the mound with the Rebels down to their last three outs in a one-run game.

Doyle retired Mitchell Sanford quickly via fly-out to center, but Ryan Moerman drew a one-out walk to send the winning run to the plate, ending Doyle's night two outs short of a complete game.

Nate Snead took over out of the bullpen and a fly out put Ole Miss down to its last out as Dylan Loy replaced Snead after a quick outing. Loy walked Will Furniss and the Rebels had some life with two on and two outs.

But it was short-lived. Hyaden Federico made contact on a 1-0 pitch from Loy and it landed harmlessly in the glove of Chapman in right to ensure Tennessee's survival and a series lead.

Tennessee and Ole Miss will play Game 2 of the series on Saturday.

The Vols will start right-handed pitcher Marcus Phillips (2-1, 2.68 ERA) on the mound, while the Rebels are slated to start right-hander Riley Maddox (3-2, 6.10 ERA).

First pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.

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