Ole Miss Baseball: No.17 Rebels fall to No.8 Miss State in Pearl
Coach Mike Bianco and No.17 Ole Miss baseball were back in action Tuesday night as they traveled to Pearl to face No.8 Miss State.
After coming off a SEC series loss at Auburn over the weekend Ole Miss baseball (27-15, was back in action Tuesday night in the Governors Cup in Pearl. Coach Mike Bianco and the Rebels have struggled since the SEC series sweep of No.16 Florida and were looking to get back on track against No.8 Miss State (33-9). The Bulldogs would prove to be too much for the Rebels.
After two and a half scoreless innings the Rebel got on the board first with 1 run in the bottom of the first to take the 1-0 lead. After a scoreless fourth frame Miss State answered with 1 run in the top of the fifth to make it a 1-1 game. The Bulldogs weren’t done and took the 4-1 lead with 3 runs in the top of the sixth.
Miss State then extended their lead to 7-1 with 3 runs in the seventh. The Bulldogs added 1 more run in the top of the eighth to extend the lead to 8-1 which would wind up being the final after nine. OHT looks at the midweek loss by the numbers with observations.
By The Numbers
Ole Miss Rebels
In the Tuesday night loss there were 6 Rebels who combined for 8 hits with 2 Rebels recording multiple hit games. Leading all Rebels at the plate was sophomore Anthony Servideo who went 2 for 4.
Junior Grae Kessinger went 2 for 5 with 1 RBI while junior Thomas Dillard went 1 for 3. Sophomore Tyler Keenan and junior Cole Zabowski each went 1 for 4 at the plate while senior Ryan Olenek went 1 for 5.
On the mound junior left-hander Zack Phillips drew the midweek start. Phillips went for 5.1 innings allowing 2 earned runs on 1 hit with 5 Ks, 2 BB and 1 HBP. Sophomore right-hander Max Cioffi entered in the sixth and went 0.0 inning allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits with 1 BB.
Coach Bianco went to the bullpen and junior right-hander Austin Miller took the hill. Miller went for 0.2 inning allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits with 1 K. Junior right-hander Houston Roth entered in the sixth and went 2.0 innings allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit with 3 Ks and 1 BB. Junior right-hander Greer Holston pitched the ninth allowing no hits with 1 K and 1 BB. Phillips (4-2) picked up the loss.
Observations
Miss State has a very good batting order, this was another case of the Ole Miss pitching staff not being able to maintain the game in the later innings. Rebels pitchers were able to hold the Bullies to just 7 hits but still gave up 6 earned runs. While the Rebels pitching staff had 10 Ks combined they also gave up 5 walks in the game and Miss State hit well enough to pick up the 8-1 win.
When you look at the Rebels batting order we know we have great hitters at the plate. Hitters can have slumps and we know the Rebels are in one. The Rebels produced 8 hits, but struck out 9 times at the plate with 4 walks. Ole Miss had opportunities leaving 11 runners on base but continue to fail scoring runs. The Rebels continue to squander baserunners and it has resulted in losses.
Next. The 2019 Diamond Rebels!. dark
Coach Mike Bianco and Ole Miss baseball will back in action Thursday night as the Rebels host No.6 Texas A&M in Oxford. First pitch from Swayze Field is set for 8pm Thursday night and the game will be televised via the SEC Network. Good luck to the Rebels. Hotty Toddy!