Ole Miss wanted to close out their season opening nine-game homestead with a bang, and they got what they wanted on Tuesday night. The Rebel offense exploded for thirteen runs over seven innings in a run rule victory over SEMO.
Despite some early struggles from their pitching staff, giving up a run in each of the first two innings, Ole Miss was able to quickly right the ship and was nearly perfect throughout the remainder. They now look ahead to this weekend’s BRUCE BOLT College Classic in Houston.
Terry Hayes Jr. got his second midweek start of the season Tuesday night for the Rebels. He struggled through 1.1 innings giving up 2 runs on four hits with two walks, and left Ole Miss holding a tenuous 3-2 lead upon his exit. Owen Kelly took the mound in the second, holding the Redhawks scoreless while getting a strikeout and giving up two walks over 2.2 innings.
The Rebels quickly responded to SEMO’s early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, with Judd Utermark starting the offense with a single. After Will Furniss walked, back-to back singles by Tristan Bissetta and Colin Reuter would drive Furniss and Utermark home. Topher Jones, who picked up the start at DH, would single and drive Bissetta home to close the Rebel scoring in the first.
In the second the Rebels would continue to get offensive help, batting around the order while picking up 6 runs. Free passes to Dom Decker and Utermark would set the stage for the Rebel’s explosive inning. Furniss would double, Utermark scored on a wild pitch, and four other Rebels would pick up hits to help the Rebels stretch their lead to seven. Brayden Randle was the final out of the inning, getting tagged out by the Redhawk catcher attempting to steal home with the bases loaded on a pitch in the dirt.
The Ole Miss bullpen would hold on through the rest of the game, with the Redhawks’ only other run of the game coming in the top of the fifth after a couple of walks by Marko Sipila. Sipila would work out of a two on, one down jam with a couple of fly outs to end the fifth. Patrick Collopy and Grayson Gibson would both pitch scoreless, hitless innings to close out the game for the Rebels.
The Rebel offense went dormant after their large second inning, that is until the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back walks by Brayden Randle and Hayden Federico would set Ole Miss up to close out the game there. Owen Paino, in a pinch hit appearance for Dom Decker, drove Randle in to extend the lead to seven. With two runners on and a chance to close out the game, Will Furniss delivered a walk-off bomb past the center field wall to end the game after seven.
“Kade Townsend looked at me when I was on deck,” said Furniss. “He said, ‘Furniss, homer,’ so I decided that was the time I needed to finally break out of that singles only slump.”
Next Up
The Rebels travel to Houston this weekend to participate in the BRUCE BOLT College Classic. Their first game comes Friday against Baylor. The tournament will be broadcast on Astros.com.
If you haven’t already subscribed to OleMiss365.com right now is the time to do it! You can sign up today, during our double-deuces special, and receive a year of the latest Ole Miss coverage from our staff for just $22! That’s less than two dollars per month to stay up-to-date on all things about your Ole Miss Rebels.
