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Ole Miss Baseball: No.9 Rebels Get Opening Weekend Series Sweep

By Daniel Skipper

Omaha, NE - JUNE 29: Game three of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arizona Wildcats and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers is under a weather delay on June 29, 2016 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 29: Game three of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arizona Wildcats and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers is under a weather delay on June 29, 2016 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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For Ole Miss baseball there were plenty of brooms to be found at Swayze Field as the Rebels defeated Winthrop Sunday afternoon for the sweep.

Sunday afternoon the stage was set at Swayze Field for Ole Miss baseball (3-0) to earn the sweep over the Winthrop Eagles. The Rebels had already earned wins in the first two games of the series. The Rebels took the Friday night game 7-3 and then the Saturday game 8-1. In both games Ole Miss controlled the mound behind starters sophomore Ryan Rolison and junior Brady Feigl. The Ole Miss pitching staff was solid thru the first two games.

Of course, it also didn’t hurt the Rebel offense produced 27 hits over the course of those first two games. Ole Miss hitting was lights out in both games. The first two games showed us a definite improvement from last season with some of the younger hitters. However, today would be much different with Winthrop saving their ace pitcher for Sunday.

Game 3 Sunday was scoreless thru the first three frames with solid pitching from both sides. However, Winthrop got on the board first with a run in the top of the 4th. The Rebels were able to answer and the game was tied thru the top of the 7th. Ole Miss baseball sent 2 runs across in the bottom of the 7th to take the 3-1 lead. Of course, unable to answer the Eagles fell short and the Rebels earned the 3-1 win and the series sweep.

On The Mound

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Junior right-hander James McArthur drew the Sunday start from coach Mike Bianco. McArthur went for 5 complete innings of work and allowed 1 unearned run on 4 hits. McArthur notched 7 Ks while also allowing three walks.

Freshman left-hander Jordan Fowler entered in the 6th and went 2 complete innings in relief. Fowler allowed only 1 hit while hanging 3 Ks.

Sophomore Will Ethridge entered in the 8th and allowed 1 hit. Junior right-hander Dallas Woolfolk closed out the game in the 9th. Woolfolk allowed no hits while chalking up 2 Ks.

At The Plate

In game 3 of the series with Winthrop Ole Miss had 3 hitters who produced 3 runs on 3 hits. No, this plate was not the launching pad of the previous two games. However, the Rebels were able to get the runs they needed to win and that’s all that really matters.

Juniors Nick Fortes and Jacob Adams both had 1 for 3 days at the plate. Adams also scored a run. Of course, the surprise of the series for me was the definite improvement of sophomore Grae Kessinger. Kessinger went 1 for 4 Sunday with 2 RBI and will be fun to watch this season.

Of course, it’s always nice to win games by seven or eight runs a game. However, sometimes you have to also be able to win by two runs and that’s what Ole Miss baseball was able to do against Winthrop in game 3 of the series.

Next: Season Predictions!

Up Next

Ole Miss baseball will stay at home in Oxford as the Memphis Tigers roll into Swayze for a midweek match-up. Of course we are anxious to see the Rebels get the win against Memphis. First pitch this Tuesday is set for 4pm CT and will be televised on SEC Network+. Hotty Toddy!

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