Ole Miss completed the perfect weekend Sunday against the Missouri State Bears, winning a nail biter 3-2 Sunday afternoon!
The Rebels offense faced diffuclties Sudnay against a well roundeed Missouri State team, but had the confidence to keep fighintg throughout the entire game.
Will Libbert would get the start for the Rebels on Sunday, his second appearance of the season for Ole Miss. Libbert couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game, quickly finishing the first inning. A all around attack from Ole Miss to start the game, Murrary State transfer Dom Decker would eviscerate a pitch to right field during the first at bat of the game, his first career home run giving the Rebels a early 1-0 lead.
The Bears would counter in the second inning, Curry Sutherland would hit a very high home run to right center field, a ball that looked like a routine pop out that would get some help from the wind would tie the game in the second inning. The Rebels offense would go quiet for two innings, lacking composure and consistency. The Bears would begin to recognize Libbert, putting two runners on base in the fourth inning, the Rebels would barely escape, and woes continued for the Rebels. The bottom of the fourth provided a bit of a scare, as catcher Austin Fawley would take a hit to the hand but continued to play through the apperant injury.
Ole Miss would be out hit by the bears 4-1 through the first four innings, and a spark of momentum was needed. The Bears would nearly take the lead in the fifth inning with a near home run from Logan Fyffe, his striking hit would bounce off the left field wall, and the success would continue for Missouri State in the fifth inning. Missouri State would take the lead in the fifth inning, a hot ball from Brayden Randle to Uttermark would cause a error for the Rebels giving the Bears a 2-1 lead.
Walker Hooks would enter the game in the sixth inning for Ole Miss, Libbert would finish the day pitching five innings, giving up six hits and two runs. Hooks wasted no time getting to work, three straight strikeouts would give Ole Miss fans hope to regain the lead sooner rather than later. Collin Reuter would provide a spark for Ole Miss in the fixth inning, ending a long drought of no hits, Reuter would slap a double to the back wall, but was not provided much help. Ole Miss would put up another zero in the score column, but, the Judd Uttermark show began. Uttermark would drive in his sixth home run of the season, his 13th rbi, belting a line drive to left field tying the game at two a piece giving Ole Miss a 2-1 lead.
With the lead, Walker Hooks would be replaced by JP Robertson in the eighth inning, Hooks would give up zero runs and force four strikeouts in two innings. Robertson would face some difficulties to start, but would manage to escape the top of the eight inning without allowing a run. Momentum finally came alive in the eighth inning for the Rebels, as Brayden Randle would drive in a huge single up the middle driving in Cannon Goldin, who pinch ran for Colin Reuter after excuting his second double of the day. Ole Miss would take a 3-1 lead in the eighth inning, and prevailed through to start the season 8-0.
Ole Miss would survive in the ninth inning despite a push from the Bears, who would leave runners on the base. Ole Miss completes the sweep on the weekend, and will host Southeastern Missouri State Tuesday at 4 p.m. ct.