Ole Miss uses the long ball to roll past 7-1 the Memphis Tigers on Tuesday night.
Ole Miss (11-2) got home runs from Judd Utermark and Topher Jones in the contest. The Rebels have hit 26 home runs through the first 13 games.
The Rebels starter, Owen Kelly, allowed a run to Memphis (3-9) in the first inning. Kelly then settled in and didn’t allow the Tigers to score over the next three innings.
“In the first inning, he gave up a run and then put up three zeros,” Coach Mike Bianco said about Kelly’s start. “We needed that with 18 innings on Tuesday and Wednesday, we needed some length out of him.”
Utermark crushed his first home run of the game in the bottom of the first to deep left field, which brought Dom Decker home to go up 2-1.
“I didn’t even look (at how far),” Utermark said. “I just put my head down, and it went pretty far.”
The Tigers’ starter, Isaac Lucas, got chased in the second inning after loading the bases. Lucas finished the night going 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on a hit with five walks while striking out three batters. Memphis then brought Seth Impson into the game out of the bullpen.
Ole Miss loaded the bases in the second and plated two more runs in the second inning.
In the third, Jones delivered his first home run of the season to right field.
“It was great to see Topher Jones swing it well in all of his at-bats and get his first college home run,” Bianco said.
Kelly’s night came to a close after 4.0 complete innings, surrendering a run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
Bianco made the call to the bullpen in the fifth for left-hander Grayson Gibson. Gibson tossed 4.0 complete innings without allowing a run or a hit while striking out five sluggers. He picked up the win.
“Really good,” Bianco said. “I’m proud of him. You always remember your first college win, and it’s hard to imagine much better than that. He really had it going with all four pitches.”
Utermark delivered his second two-run shot in the sixth inning. Utermark finished the game going 2-for-4 with two home runs, a walk, and a groundout with five RBIs and two runs scored. He has a total of 37 home runs that is tied for eighth all-time with Burney Hutchinson and Steven Head.
“I think it is a really cool honor,” Utermark said. “There are really, really good baseball players that have come through Ole Miss, it’s an honor to be on that list, but ultimately we are trying for a National Championship.”
Colin Reuter followed Utermark with a double, which was his eighth double of the season.
The Tigers’ reliever Impson worked 4.2 innings and surrendered three runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Memphis brought right-hander Lance Bryan out of the bullpen in the seventh. In the eighth, Jacob Dienes came into face the Rebels.
Landon Waters came into the game in the ninth to finish the game.
Ole Miss pitchers struck out a total of 12 Tiger batters in the game.
Ole Miss returns to the diamond at Swayze on Wednesday as they play host to North Alabama. The first pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed on SEC Network+.
