Ole Miss Baseball: Rebels Split Opening Weekend With Wright State
Coach Mike Bianco and Ole Miss baseball kicked off the 2019 season at Swayze Field this weekend and split two games with Wright State.
Ole Miss baseball (1-1) began the 2019 season this past weekend splitting two games with Wright State (1-1). While many Ole Miss fans were excited to see the season begin the Rebels started the season against a very solid Wright State team. With Sundays game cancelled because of inclement weather the Rebels played just two games in the series.
Friday evening the Rebels opened the season with a 10-1 blowout win but fell 9-5 to Wright State on Saturday. Friday the Rebels looked really good against the Raiders but behind a slow start and a late rally the Rebels couldn’t get the Saturday win. OHT will take a look at both games, the key Rebels players and their numbers.
Game 1
Ole Miss Rebels
Friday the Rebels were on fire at the plate with six Rebels collecting hits in the 10-1 win over the Raiders. Leading all Rebels at the plate was junior Thomas Dillard who went 3 for 3 with 1 RBI. Junior Cooper Johnson went 3 for 4 at the plate knocking in 2 runs. Johnson also had a HR. Senior Michael Fitzsimmons went 1 for 1 with 1 RBI in the game.
Junior Cole Zabowski went 2 for 5 at the plate with 1 RBI while senior Ryan Olenek and sophomore Tyler Keenan each went 1 for 3. Keenan had 2 RBI. Keenan had a HR in the Friday 10-1 win. As a team the Rebels picked up 11 hits at the plate.
On the mound junior right-hander Will Ethridge drew the Friday start. Ethridge went for 5.2 innings allowing 4 hits and 0 earned runs. Ethridge had 5 Ks and 2 BBs in his first outing of the season. Junior Austin Miller entered in relief in the sixth and went the distance for the Rebels. Miller was on the mound for 3.1 innings and allowed 3 hits and 1 earned run. Miller had 2 Ks in his first appearance of the 2019 season. Ethridge picked up the win while Miller earned the save in the 10-1 season opening win.
Game 2
In the Saturday loss there were 5 Rebels who combined for 8 hits. Leading all Rebels at the plate was junior Thomas Dillard who went 2 for 3 with 1 RBI. Seniors Chase Cockrell and Jacob Adams each went 2 for 4 at the plate with Cockrell collecting 1 RBI. Senior Ryan Olenek went 1 for 4 at the plate with 2 RBI while junior Cooper Johnson went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI.
On the mound JUCO transfer Zack Phillips drew the Saturday start. Phillips went for 2.2 innings allowing 4 earned runs on 7 hits. Phillips had 1 K and 2 BBs. Junior Taylor Broadway entered in the third and went for 0.2 innings allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits. Broadway also had 1 K and 2 BBs.
Coach Mike Bianco went to the bullpen again and sophomore Max Cioffi took the mound. Cioffi went for 3.2 innings allowing 0 earned runs and 0 hits. Cioffi had 5 Ks during his first appearance of the season. Freshman Kaleb Hill entered in the seventh and finished out the game for the Rebels on the mound. Hill allowed 1 earned run on 1 hit. Hill had 1 K and 2 BBs to begin his Rebels career.
Observations
It’s just the opening weekend and against a very strong Wright State team. Friday we watched as the Rebels dominated at the plate against very good pitching. Saturday the roles for both teams were reversed with Wright State dominating at the plate. Bianco’s Saturday pitching rotation may be suspect but we know Ethridge is solid as a Friday night starter. With the Sunday game being cancelled we were unable to see freshman Gunnar Hogland who is expected to be very good.
Next. The 2019 Diamond Rebels!. dark
Coach Mike Bianco and Ole Miss baseball will be back in action Tuesday as they host Arkansas State at Swayze Field. First pitch is set for 4pm CT and the game will be televised via SECN+. Good luck to coach Mike Bianco and the Rebels. Hotty Toddy!