Ole Miss Baseball: Rebels Suffer Midweek Sweep At No.8 Louisville
Coach Mike Bianco and No.11 Ole Miss baseball were back in action in a midweek road series with No.8 Louisville where they faced two games.
No.11 Ole Miss baseball (12-5) was on the road at No.8 Louisville where the Rebels faced two games in a midweek series. In game-one Tuesday the Rebels lost a 3-4 heartbreaker which went to extra innings. In game-two Wednesday the Rebels dropped a 8-10 decision to Louisville.
In game 1 Louisville got on the board first with 2 runs in the bottom of the first to take the 2-0 lead. Louisville then added 1 run in the bottom of the fifth to make the lead 3-0. The Rebels responded with 3 runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 3-3 which ultimately forced extra innings. Louisville picked up the win with 1 run in the bottom of the tenth.
In game-two it was the Rebels who struck first with 2 runs in the top of the first to take the early 2-0 lead but Louisville answered with 5 runs in the bottom of the frame to take the 5-2 lead after one. The Cardinals added 1 run in the bottom of the second and 2 runs in the bottom of the third to push their lead to 8-2 heading into the fourth.
The Rebels scored 1 run in the top of the frame to cut the lead to 8 -3 but Louisville answered with runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to extend the lead to 10-3. Ole Miss added 2 runs in the top of the eighth and 3 runs in the top of the ninth to make the final 10-8 Louisville. OHT looks at the Rebels numbers in both games.
Game 1, 3-4 L
Ole Miss Rebels
In game-one there were 4 Rebels who combined for 6 hits with 2 Rebels having multiple hit games at the plate. Freshman Kevin Graham and senior Jacob Adams both went 2 for 3 with each recording 1 RBI in the game. Junior Cole Zabowski and senior Ryan Olenek each went 1 for 4 at the plate.
On the mound freshman left-hander Doug Nikhazy drew the start for the Rebels. Nikhazy went for 6.0 innings allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits. Nikhazy had 5 Ks and 2 BB. Senior right-hander Connor Green entered in the seventh and went the rest of the way. Green went for 3.1 innings allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits with 5 Ks and 2 BB. Green picked up the loss.
Game 2, 8-10 L
In game-two there were 6 Rebels who combined for 8 hits at the plate with 2 Rebels having multiple hit games. Leading all Rebels was junior Cole Zabowski who went 2 for 3 with 1 RBI. Junior Cooper Johnson went 2 for 5 (HR) with 2 RBI in the game. Junior Grae Kessinger, senior Ryan Olenek and sophomore Tyler Keenan all went 1 for 3 at the plate. Kessinger had 1 RBI while Keenan had 2 RBI. Sophomore Tim Elko went 1 for 1 (HR) with 1 RBI.
On the mound junior right-hander Houston Roth drew the start for Bianco and the Rebels. Roth went for just 0.2 inning allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits with 1 K. Sophomore right-hander Max Cioffi entered later in the first and went 2.1 innings allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits with 2 Ks and 2 BB. Junior right-hander Austin Miller entered in the fourth and went 1.1 inning allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits with 2 Ks and 1 BB.
Bianco went to the bullpen again in the fifth and freshman left-hander Kaleb Hill took the mound. Hill went 0.2 inning allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit with 1 K and 2 BB. Junior right-hander Tyler Myers entered in the sixth and went 2.0 innings allowing 0 runs on just 1 hit with 2 Ks. Senior Ryan Olenek finished out the mound for the Rebels going 1.0 inning and allowing no with 1 K.
Observations
Louisville is a very good team on the mound and at the plate. While we have seen the Rebels find success in weekend series they have struggled against better teams especially during the midweek. The Rebels have series sweeps over Long Beach State and UAB but they are far below the caliber of ECU or Louisville and we’ve seen the difference. This is a long season and we should expect the Rebels to improve as the season goes on.
Next. The 2019 Diamond Rebels!. dark
Coach Mike Bianco and No.11 Ole Miss baseball will be back in action this weekend as they begin SEC play against Alabama. First pitch for game-one in the three-game series in Oxford is set for 6:30pm CT Friday and can be viewed via SECN+. Good luck to coach Mike Bianco and Ole Miss baseball this weekend. Hotty Toddy!