The No. 13-ranked Ole Miss baseball team rallied from a six-run deficit to score nine unanswered runs and knock off rival Memphis Wednesday afternoon at Swayze Field. The Rebels (7-1) plated seven in the third inning to help secure the victory after previously trailing 6-0.
“We’ve been able to put big innings together. Good offenses do that,” said head coach Mike Bianco. “When we’ve had the opportunities this season, we’ve scored multiple runs in an inning.”
At the plate, Ole Miss took advantage when the bases were loaded, plating five runs with the bags full of Rebels. Junior J.B. Woodman led the way, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Freshman catcher Nick Fortes went 1-for-3 with two runs scored in his first start behind the plate as a Rebel. Fortes showed off his arm strength by throwing down to catch the first runner who tried to steal on him.
For the second time this season, freshman Andy Pagnozzi (2-0) pitched effectively out of the bullpen to earn the victory. Pagnozzi had a great afternoon on the mound, tossing 3.2 innings with only two hits and only one run allowed. Fellow freshman Connor Green also had a solid outing with 1.1 scoreless innings of work.
Memphis (4-3) rallied 11 hits throughout the contest, getting multi-hit games out of Andy Bowman, Chris Carrier and Jake Little. In the field, a pair of errors led to five unearned runs, and freshman pitcher Alex Hicks (0-1) suffered the loss.
After a quiet first inning, the Tigers kicked off the second inning with two singles before Little took a two-strike swing and hit a three-run homer to left field. Memphis added three more runs in the third, and the Rebels quickly found themselves in a 6-0 hole.
However, the Rebels used a relentless effort to make a comeback in the bottom of the third inning. Ole Miss remained patient at the plate and took advantage of Memphis miscues. Fortes recorded his first career hit with a one-out single, while three walks and an error cut the deficit in half, 6-3. Colby Bortles walked before Blackman reached on a fielder’s choice for a RBI that scored Errol Robinson. Holt Perdzock continued the Rebel run in the third inning with a RBI-single up the middle to send Woodman across the dish. When the dust settled, the Rebels batted around and sent 11 to the plate during the big inning. After four walks and three hits, seven runs crossed the dish to flip the script and give Ole Miss the 7-6 advantage through three frames.
In the sixth, the Rebels were still holding onto a one-run lead thanks to Pagnozzi holding the Memphis bats in-check. Ole Miss added two insurance runs that proved to be necessary. With two on, Woodman stepped up to the plate and ripped a single through the right side. His two-RBI single scored Will Golsan and Fortes to give Ole Miss a 9-6 lead.
Brady Feigl took over the mound in the top of the eighth. The Tigers tried to catch up to Ole Miss’ three-run lead and loaded the bases. However, Memphis’ effort wasn’t enough and Ole Miss got out of the inning by turning a quick double play.
Memphis attempted one last rally in the ninth as left fielder Carrier’s solo home run sliced the margin to two, 9-7. Nonetheless, sophomore Will Stokes (1) nailed down the game to earn his first save of the season.
Ole Miss hits the road to take part in the Coastal Carolina Tournament over the weekend in Conway, South Carolina. The Rebels will start the weekend on Friday morning, at 11a.m. CT, against Ball State.
Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports
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