After an incredible SEC Tourney run coach Mike Bianco and Ole Miss baseball were in action Sunday as they faced Vanderbilt for the championship.
You really can’t complain about Ole Miss baseball (37-25) and the way they performed in the SEC Tourney in Hoover. After finishing the regular season in an obvious slide the Rebels bounced back bigtime in the tourney. The Rebels picked up wins over Mizzou, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Georgia to find themselves in line to repeat as SEC Tourney Champs. Vandy would be a tough matchup.
The Rebels jumped on the Dores early scoring 6 runs in the top of the first to take a 6-0 lead. Ole Miss added 1 run in the top of the second to extend their lead to 7-0. Vandy answered with 1 run in the bottom of the frame to cut the Rebels lead to 7-1. The Rebels pushed the lead to 9-1 with 2 runs in the top of the third. The Dores once again cut the Rebels lead to 9-3 with 2 runs in the bottom of the third.
Vandy added 5 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a close 9-8 Rebels lead. The Rebels added 1 run in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 10-8 but Vandy answered with 1 run to make it a 10-9 game. Vandy tied the game at 10-10 with 1 run in the bottom of the sixth and then scored 1 run in the bottom of the ninth to get the 11-10 win. Of course, OHT looks at the loss by the numbers.
By The Numbers
Ole Miss Rebels
In the Sunday loss there were 6 Rebels who combined for 9 hits at the plate. Leading all Rebels was junior Cooper Johnson who went 3 for 4 with 1 RBI. Junior Grae Kessinger went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI while sophomore Anthony Servideo went 1 for 2.
Junior Thomas Dillard went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI. Senior Ryan Olenek went 1 for 4 while junior Cole Zabowski went 1 for 5, each with 1 RBI. Senior Jacob Adams also had 1 RBI.
Junior left-hander Zack Phillips drew the start on the hill for Bianco and the Rebels. Phillips went for 2.0 innings allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits with 1 BB. Junior right-hander Tyler Myers entered in the third and went for 1.2 innings allowing 5 earned runs on 5 hits with 1 BB.
Bianco went to the bullpen and sophomore left-hander Jordan Fowler entered in the fourth. Fowler went for 0.2 inning and allowed 1 earned run on 1 hit. Bianco went to the bullpen again in the fifth and junior right-hander Will Ethridge entered. Ethridge went for 1.2 innings allowing 0 runs on 1 hit.
Junior right-hander Austin Miller entered in the seventh and went for 2.2 innings allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit with 6 Ks and 4 BB. Senior right-hander Ryan Olenek finished out the game on the mound for the Rebels and allowed 1 hit.
Coach Mike Bianco and national No.12 seed Ole Miss baseball will be back in action this weekend as they face Jacksonville State in the Oxford Regional. Also in the Oxford Regional are Clemson and Illinois. Please be sure to check back here for more updates as we get closer to the weekend. Hotty Toddy!