Ole Miss Baseball: No.7 Rebels Drop Game One To No.12 Georgia

No.7 Ole Miss baseball was back in SEC action Friday night as they hosted No.12 Georgia in game-one of a weekend series at Swayze Field in Oxford.

No.7 Ole Miss baseball entered the weekend series coming off a midweek win over Arkansas State while No.12 Georgia was coming off a midweek win over No.15 Clemson. The Rebels dropped the series with Vandy last weekend while the Bulldogs dropped their last SEC series to Kentucky. Both teams desperately needed to get off to a good start in this series opener.

Georgia struck first in the top of the 1st with 1 run. The Bulldogs maintained the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the 6th when the Rebels finally got on the board with 1 run of their own. With the game knotted at 1-1 thru the 7th the Bulldogs added another run in the top of the 8th to take the 2-1 lead. However, the Rebels added 1 run in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 2-2. Georgia added 1 more run in the top of the 9th t once again take the lead. Down 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th the Rebels were held scoreless and Georgia picked up the 3-2 game-one win.

This was a tough loss for Ole Miss baseball. Of course, the outcome was not what coach Mike Bianco wanted from the Rebels. However, the Rebels have not played well in the first game of several series. Although the Rebels were able to bounce back and win series earlier in the season we’ve seen the Rebels struggle in recent weeks. Naturally OHT looks at this game by the numbers and we can see what happened.

By The Numbers

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Sophomore left-hander Ryan Rolison (5-3, 3.19) did make the game-one start this week on the hill. Rolison went for 7.0 innings and allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits. Rolison had 6 Ks and 4 BB. Coach Mike Bianco made the call in the 8th and sophomore right-hander Will Ethridge (1-1, 3.95, 2) took the mound. Ethridge went 1.0 innings and allowed no hits. Sophomore right-hander Parker Caracci (2-1, 2.00, 6) entered in the 9th and allowed 1 earned run on 2 hits. Caracci had 1 K and 1 BB. Caracci picked up the loss.

At The Plate

On the evening against outstanding Georgia pitching 6 Rebels combined for 7 hits. Leading all Rebels at the plate was junior Nick Fortes (.301, 7 HR) who went 2 for 4. Sophomore Thomas Dillard (.326, 8 HR) went 1 for 2 with 1 RBI while junior Ryan Olenek (.401, 2 HR) went 1 for 3.

Sophomore Grae Kessinger (.300, 3 HR) went 1 for 4 (HR) and had 1 RBI. Junior Chase Cockrell  (.358, 4 HR) and senior Will Golsan also went 1 for 4 at the plate. The Rebels faced some very good pitching in game-one and will see even more within the remainder of the series. This team has to produce offensively when Ole Miss pitching struggles. Friday night they didn’t. However, despite 3 one-run losses in the last 4 games this team can and will bounce back.

Additional Notes

Something we have yet to address in the 2018 season is errors. As baseball fans we all hate fielding and throwing errors. Of course, errors are part of the game and play an essential part especially in close games. Historically Mike Bianco teams have committed an above average amount of errors. It appears this team is no different. However, while great offensive production negates most there is a fine line between committing errors and posting wins.

Ole Miss has relied on shutdown pitching in close games when the offensive production has been low. When the pitching struggles and there have been errors the Rebels have relied on massive offensive production. Basically speaking, you have to be outstanding in at least one facet of the game in the SEC. One less BB, one more hit at the plate or one less error could have been the difference in score last night. Ole Miss baseball cannot play below average baseball against above average competition and expect to win games.

Next: Better Than Expected...

Up Next

No.7 Ole Miss baseball will be back in action Saturday April 21st against the No.12 Georgia Bulldogs in a doubleheader. Can Ole Miss bounce back and win two games to capture the series? We can’t be sure but we have to believe the Rebels will come on strong with the game-two line-up.

First pitch from Swayze Field for game-two of a three game series is set for 1:30pm CT and will be televised via SEC Network+. Good luck to coach Mike Bianco and the Rebels as they take on UGA in a double. BEAT THE DAWGS! Hotty Toddy!