Ole Miss Baseball: Rebels Take Series At No.10 Hogs, Midweek Series With ULM Ahead

Forced to play an impromptu double-header, Ole Miss baseball started out strong taking the first game from the No.10 Arkansas Razorbacks 4-1 to give the Rebels the series. However, the Rebels would blow a lead in the second game of the day and drop the final game of the 3 game series.

After long-ball bombing No.10 Arkansas on Thursday night to the tune of 9-1, Ole Miss baseball (27-17, 11-10)  hoped to keep momentum. Of course, with the games being rescheduled because of heavy rain moving into Fayetteville Friday night, the task of following up was daunting. However, it really couldn’t have set up better for the offensive hot Rebels.

Sure, Arkansas (34-12, 13-8) was No.10 in the nation for two very good reasons. One, they can hit the ball, and two, they have an exceptional defense. Of course, we know Ole Miss has outstanding pitching and it seems the offense is coming around after the huge game 1 blowout Thursday night.

The Rebels hoped for the sweep in the double-header and appeared to have it in hand after taking the series by winning the first game. Ole Miss appeared to have a solid lead in the second game but failed to close and dropped the final game. Playing three games in the span of just over 24 hours may have been too much for the young Rebels to handle. Lets look at the two games.

Game 1

On The Mound

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Ryan Rolison (6-2, 1.84) drew the start for the first game. Rolison would put in 6.0 innings of work in the game while allowing only 1 earned run on 4 hits and chalking up 3 Ks.

Freshman right-hander Will Ethridge (1-2, 2.25, 1)  followed, pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless effort. Dallas Woolfolk (3-1, 1.19, 9) entered in the 8th inning and finished out game 1 on the rubber. Woolfolk pitched 1.2 innings allowing no runs on 1 hit. In total,

Rebel pitchers allowed only 1 earned run on 5 hits. The Rebel pitching staff continues to show its dominance and it’s ability to pitch itself out of situations.

In The Box

Rebel batters managed to accumulate 4 runs on 9 hits in the game against a gritty Arkansas pitching staff. Leading the Rebel hitters, Nick Fortes hit 2 for 4 on the day knocking in 2 RBIs while scoring a run. Tate Blackman went 2 for 5 at the plate scoring a run.

Other Rebels garnering hits in the first game were Colby Bortles who went 1 for 4. Will Golsan who continues to hit well, also went 1 for 4 in the box. Kyle Watson went 1 for 3 at the plate while Cooper Johnson was 1 for 4 in the game. Grae Kessinger also chipped in going 1 for 2.

When the Rebels hit consistently we see the signs in the win column as such was the case in the first game. However, Ole Miss continues to be haunted by stranding runners. The Rebels stranded 9 in the first game of the double-header. Still the Rebels took game 1 by a score of 4-1.

Game 2

At The Plate

The Rebels came into the second game with a 2-0 advantage and the sweep in their sights. Of course, hitting wouldn’t be the problem with the red-hot Rebels swinging away in the series finale. Once again, the Rebels tallied 4 runs on 9 hits.

Tate Blackman and Colby Bortles led all hitters in the game going 2 for 3 while knocking in an RBI each. Blackman hit his 7th HR of the season. Thomas Dillard went 2 for 4 at the plate and knocked his 4th HR. Tim Rowe, Cooper Johnson and Grae Kessinger each had 1 for 3 days at the plate.

Once again, the Rebels would produce hits to get runners on base, but stranded 9 runners in the game. Although the Rebels had also stranded 9 runners in the first game, it would prove to be their downfall in game 2.

On The Mound

David Parkinson (5-2, 3.43) drew the start for the second game of the double-header. Parkinson pitched 4.2 innings while allowing 4 earned runs on 4 hits and giving up 3 walks. Parkinson would etch out 5 Ks on the afternoon.

Brady Feigl (2-2, 3.94, 1) entered in the 5th and went thru 2.1 innings of work on the rubber. Feigl had 1 K. Will Stokes (1-1, 2.49, 4) finished out the afternoon on the hill. Stokes went 1.0 inning while allowing 3 unearned runs on 3 hits. The 3 runs which scored because of Rebel errors gave the loss to Stokes. Ole Miss dropped the second game of the double-header 7-4.

2 Game Midweek Series

UL-Monroe (12-32) comes to Oxford for a two game midweek series at Swayze Field. Freshman right-hander Greer Holston (2-3, 3.38) is projected as the starter for game 1 Tuesday night. Senior right-hander Sean Johnson (0-0, 4.70) is slated as starter for Wednesdays game.

Both Ole Miss baseball games will be televised on SECN+ Of course, the radio broadcast is always available on the Ole Miss Radio Network. First pitch for Tuesdays game will be at 6:30pm CT. Wednesdays first pitch will be at 4pm CT.