Coach Mike Bianco and Ole Miss baseball were back in action Sunday as they were fighting to stay alive in the Fayetteville Super Regional.
Coming off a ugly 11-2 game-one loss on Saturday, coach Mike Bianco and Ole Miss baseball were back in action Sunday and looking to even the three-game series with a game-two win. The Rebels needed the win to stay in Fayetteville and force a game-three in order to punch their ticket for Omaha.
Arkansas got on the board first with 2 runs in the top of the first inning to take the early 2-0 lead. However, the Rebels responded with 3 runs in the bottom of the frame to make it a 3-2 game after one. The Rebels then added 5 runs in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 8-2.
The Hogs cut the Rebels lead to 8-5 with 3 runs in the top of the fourth but their scoring would end there. Ole Miss added 3 runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it an 11-5 game and then added insurance in the bottom of the seventh to make it 13-5 which was the final. OHT looks at the huge win by the numbers.
By The Numbers
Ole Miss Rebels
In the game-two win there were 7 Rebels who combined for 12 hits with 4 Rebels recording multiple hit games. Leading all Rebels at the plate was junior Cole Zabowski (1HR) who went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI.
Sophomore Anthony Servideo went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI while junior Cooper Johnson (1HR) and sophomore Tyler Keenan (1HR) each went 2 for 5 at the plate. Johnson had 1 RBI while Keenan had 4 RBI. Junior Grae Kessinger (1HR) went 1 for 3 with 2 RBI while junior Thomas Dillard also went 1 for 3. Freshman Kevin Graham went 1 for 4 at the plate.
Freshman left-hander Doug Nikhazy drew the expected start on the mound for Bianco and the Rebels. Nikhazy went for 5.0 innings allowing 5 earned runs on 10 hits with 8 Ks, 1 BB, 1 WP and 1 HBP. Junior right-hander Houston Roth entered in the sixth and went the rest of the way going 4.0 innings allowing 0 runs on just 2 hits with 3 Ks. Nikhazy (9-3) picked up the win while Roth earned his first save of 2019.
Observations
Ole Miss baseball did what it had to do in order to stay alive in the super regional. The Rebels needed a big win and they found it behind Nikhazy and Roth on the mound and by an onslaught of offensive production. The Rebels found the magic at the plate Sunday and it resulted in 4 homers on the day. The Rebels will need more of the same as they face the Hogs Monday in game-three.
Coach Mike Bianco and Ole Miss baseball will be back in action Monday as they face Arkansas in a do or die game-three matchup. The winner will punch their ticket for Omaha and the College World Series. First pitch from Fayetteville is set for 3pm CT and the game will be televised via ESPN2. Good luck to coach Bianco and the Rebels. BEAT THE HOGS! Hotty Toddy!