Ole Miss baseball was coming off an opening weekend series sweep over Winthrop and now had to face Memphis in a midweek match-up.
Ole Miss baseball (4-0) got off to a good start this past weekend. Ole Miss swept the Winthrop Eagles out of the Big South conference in a three-game series. Of course, as the season goes on the competition always gets a little tougher. There was no exception for the Rebels as they had to host Memphis in a Tuesday night game.
“Son, we’re going to a ballgame!”, and a ballgame it was. Ole Miss didn’t waste any time getting things started and got on the board first with 2 runs in the bottom of the first. The Rebels kept that lead until they added 4 more in the 3rd to take a 6-0 lead into the 4th. The Tigers struck with 2 runs in the top of the 5th but Ole Miss answered with 2 runs as well.
The Rebels led 8-2 headed into the 6th inning but failed to score runs in the final frames. Missouri picked up single runs in the 5th and the 8th and added 2 runs in the 9th but couldn’t close enough on the Rebels to escape the 8-6 Ole Miss win. Congrats to the Rebels on getting the win. Now, lets look at this game by the numbers.
FINAL | @nickfortes7 sends two over Swayze Field's walls and @Swagulater15 racks up four hits with three runs scored as No. 9 Ole Miss holds off Memphis to move to 4-0!#HottyToddy #RebsBSB pic.twitter.com/HsyQCY0ufa
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 21, 2018
On The Mound
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As projected is was Houston Roth who drew the start for the Rebels against Memphis. Roth went 4 complete innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits. Roth etched 6 Ks while allowing 3 walks during his effort. Roth earned his first win of the season.
Sophomore Austin Miller entered i the 5th and went for 2 complete innings. Miller allowed 1 run on 3 hits and had 1 K. Sophomore right-hander Greer Holston pitched the 7th and allowed 1 earned run on 4 hits. Holston recorded 1 K.
Senior Will Stokes entered in the 8th and allowed 2 earned runs on 1 hit. Stokes also recorded 1 K and 1 BB. Junior right-hander Dallas Woolfolk entered in the 9th and closed out the game. Woolfolk faced five Tigers while allowing 0 runs on 2 hits and recording 3 Ks. Woolfolk earned his second save of the season.
At The Plate
On the evening 6 Rebels hitters combined to produce 8 runs on 12 hits. Sophomore Grae Kessinger led all Rebels hitters going 4 for 5 at the plate. Kessinger also scored 3 runs. Junior Nick Fortes had a huge game going 3 for 4 with 6 RBI. Fortes had 2 homers in the game. Freshman Tim Elko went 2 for 4 at the plate and scored a run.
Sophomores Cole Zabowski and Thomas Dillard each went 1 for 3. Dillard knocked in 1 RBI. Junior Chase Cockrell went 1 for 4. Memphis pitching is not bad at all and the Rebels ripped them for 12 hits. The midweek game is always a toss-up when it comes to the competition and can easily become a trap game after a huge weekend. Luckily the Ole Miss offense showed up and the Rebels got the 8-6 win.
Up Next
No.9 Ole Miss baseball will continue its homestretch this weekend as they host a 3-game series with Tulane. First pitch from Swayze Field is for Friday at 4pm CT. Good luck to coach Mike Bianco and the Rebels! Hotty Toddy!