Issac Humphrey Leads to Way for the Ole Miss Rebels in their Sweep of the Missouri Tigers

It was a great weekend to be an Ole Miss Rebel, with both the Men's and Women's basketball teams punching their tickets to the Sweet 16. The baseball program's performance was no different, completing a crucial sweep of the sluggish Missouri Tigers, helping to catapult their SEC campaign, and responding to a rough five-game stretch.

The Rebels put on an absolute offensive showcase, scoring 40 runs over the three games. Now, the Missouri pitching staff has struggled this season, but the Rebels more than handled them and were able to out-score the Tigers when the pitching/defense wasn't quite there for the Rebs. The Rebels also had some big-time performances by a few players, none more notable than Issac Humphrey, who was named SEC Player of the Week for his efforts this weekend in CoMo.

Friday : Ole Miss 9 - Missouri 6

Hunter Elliott did not have his best stuff on Friday night, but he battled through it, in true gamer fashion, and was able to make nearly through five innings, allowing four runs while striking out 7.

Sanford started the scoring for the Rebels with a triple in the first inning, his third of the week. Issac Humphrey would hit his first home run of the weekend in the third inning to knot the game up at 2.

The Rebels would head to the 6th inning trailing by a run, but with bases loaded, a hit by a pitch to Humphrey would bring home the tying run, and then Cheng, in his return game, would deliver the go-ahead run with a fielder's choice. In the 7th, Furniss singled, Fawley doubled, and Humphrey had a 2 RBI single that put the Rebels up 8-3.

Mason Morris was great out of the bullpen for two and a third innings. Brayden Jones and Connor Spencer were also excellent for an inning, but they both did allow one hit, which was a solo shot, allowing Mizzou to cut into the lead, but it was not enough as the Rebels rolled to a 9-6 victory in game 1.

Saturday: Ole Miss 17 - Missouri 10

Saturday was an absolute slugfest, and things got started off with a bang, as Judd Utermark would smoke his 9th home run of the season to give Ole Miss an early 3-run lead. However, the Tiger's Jackson Lovich would respond with a bases-clearing triple to tie the game in the bottom of the 1st.

The top of the third saw Ryan Moerman hit a solo shot, and then Issac Humphrey hit a two-run home run to put the Rebels back up 3. However, Maddox would struggle in the third, giving up four runs and giving the Tigers the edge 7-6.

Maddox was not good on Saturday, allowing seven runs and barely making it through 3 innings. This marks back-to-back, not great starts for Maddox to start SEC play, and seeing better form from him will be necessary for sustained success for this team, as they won't be able to out-muscle better teams.

In the fourth inning, the Rebels took the lead for good and never looked back. Will Furniss hit a three-run shot to put Ole Miss ahead.

Issac Humphrey then hit is second home run in as many innings to put the Rebels up 11-7.

The Rebels would take on some more in the 5th, 6th, and 9th and sustain a bad 7th inning en route to a 17-10 win and securing a series victory.

The bullpen was really solid for the Rebels in this one. Alex Canney threw a clean inning. Walker Hooks turned in a much better SEC outing, going 2.2 innings and allowing just one run on two hits.

Landon Waters wasn't great in the 7th inning, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk. We saw the best outing from Cade Townsend as he struck out two in a perfect inning. His continued development is the key to this bullpen having the arms necessary. Brayden Jones then returned for back-to-back games and threw a perfect inning to close things out.

Sunday: Ole Miss 14 - Missouri 6

Sunday saw the Rebels get behind the eight ball but surge back and put the game out of hand. The Tigers hit a solo home run at the bottom of the first to take the lead. Luke Cheng would deliver his first homerun in a Rebel uniform to tie the game, continuing an excellent weekend for the shortstop.

Mason Nichols would get shelled in the 3rd, allowing a three-run bomb to Jackson Lovich, which would put the Rebs down 5-1. Nichols would buckle down, however, and make it through 5 innings.

In the next inning, the Rebels would respond with a bases-clearing double from Issac Humphrey and then a double by Cheng that brought home the tying run.

In the fifth inning, Ryan Moerman would give the Rebels the lead for good with a solo shot, and then in the 7th, Humphreys's 4th home run of the weekend and a Hill triple would help increase the lead.

Finally, Will Mccausland turned in a good outing for the first time since his debut performance against Clemson. He completed the last four innings of this game, allowing just one run, striking out six, and allowing no walks, as the Rebels completed the needed sweep.

Standout Performances

Issac Humprhey: 6 for 15, 4 HR, 13 RBI

Mitchell Sanford: 6 for 13, 2 HR, 5 RBI

Judd Utermark: 5 for 12, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 BB

Austin Fawley: 5 for 12, 2 RBI

Will Furniss: 5 fr 10, 5 RBI, 1 HR

Brayden Jones: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 5 SO, 0 BB

Will Mccausland: 4IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 SO, 0 BB

What is Next

The Rebels return to action Tuesday night in Swayze in a rivalry matchup against the Memphis Tigers. Following that, they will stay in Oxford for a Thursday - Saturday SEC Series against the desperate Florida Gators, who will come to town with a 0-6 conference record. Stay locked in here at Ole Hotty Toddy for continued coverage.