Coach Mike Bianco and No.11 Ole Miss baseball were back in action Friday night as they hosted No.5 Miss State in game-one of the weekend series.
No.11 Ole Miss baseball (32-18, 15-10) was back in action Friday night in Oxford at Swayze Field. The Rebels were hosting No.5 Miss State (40-10, 16-9) and were looking to have a big three-game series beginning with game-one. The Rebels entered the SEC series against arch-rival Miss State coming off a series win at LSU in Baton Rouge last weekend. The Bulldogs would have something to say.
After two scoreless innings Miss State got on the board first with 1 run in the top of the third to take the early 1-0 lead. Miss State would add 1 more run in the top of the fifth to make their lead 2-0. The Rebels were unable to get across the plate and Miss State picked up the 2-0 game-one win. OHT looks at the game-one loss by the numbers with some observations.
By The Numbers
Ole Miss Rebels
In the game-one loss there were 5 Rebels who combined for 6 hits with 1 Rebel recording multiple hits. Leading all Rebels at the plate was junior Grae Kessinger who went 2 for 4. Juniors Thomas Dillard and Cole Zabowski, sophomore Tyler Keenan and freshman Kevin Graham all went 1 for 3 at the plate.
Junior right-hander Will Ethridge drew the expected start on the hill for Mike Bianco and the Rebels. Ethridge went for 6.0 innings allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits with 4 Ks and 2 BB. Junior right-hander Houston Roth entered in the seventh and went for 3.0 innings allowing 0 earned runs on just 2 hits. Roth had 3 Ks. Ethridge (5-5) picked up the loss.
Observations
You really can’t ask for a better game from the Rebels outside of win. To allow just 2 runs on 8 hits to Miss State is remarkable. Miss State has a great lineup and is capable of putting a lot of runs across the plate at one time.
Coach Mike Bianco and No.11 Ole Miss baseball will be back in action Saturday night in game-two of the weekend series. Good luck to coach Bianco and the Rebels. Hotty Toddy!