The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Arkansas State
No. 16 Ole Miss Takes Out Frustration Against Arkansas State
5/13/2002 | Baseball
May 13, 2002
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JONESBORO, Ark. - No. 16 Ole Miss hit three home runs, including a second-inning grand slam by Drew Rogers, to take out some frustration from a recent slide with a 12-4 romp over Arkansas State Monday evening, in front of 378 at Tomlinson Stadium-Kell Field. The Rebels (36-16) entered the game having lost seven of their last nine since taking two-of-three at then-No. 2 Alabama, April 19-21, including being swept at home this past weekend by Arkansas.
Senior outfielder Burney Hutchinson put the Rebels on the board in the first inning with his 10th home run of the season, a three-run shot to make it 3-0.
Rogers grand slam in the second extended Ole Miss' lead to 7-0 and first baseman Dustin Cliburn hit a two-run shot in the fourth to give the Rebels a 9-2 lead. The home runs were Rogers' sixth and Cliburn's third of the season.
The Rebels would add two more runs in the fourth on Jonathan Swearingen's two-run single to make it 11-2.
Senior left-hander Mike Gray (4-0) pitched a season-long six complete innings to earn the win. He allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and three walks and tied a season-high with five strikeouts.
Junior left-hander Jon Dove (2-6) was charged with the loss as he was tagged for three runs, two earned, on four hits and one walk, while striking out one before being lifted after one inning.
Rogers finished 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs, and Jonathan Swearingen was 3-for-6 with two RBIs as nine Rebels recorded at least one hit. Junior shortstop Chad Sterbens was 1-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 18 games, which ties him with T.Y. Gunter for the second-longest streak in school history.
Ole Miss out-hit Arkansas State 15-8 on the night.
Josh Allison and Nate Olson both went 2-for-4 for Arkansas State (21-31), and Eli Lapka was 1-for-4, including a two-run home run in the sixth to provide the 11-4 final.
Ole Miss will conclude a five games in five-day stretch Tuesday evening when the Rebels host McNeese State at 6:30 p.m., at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field. Tuesday's game will be Fan Appreciation Day as all season ticket holders will be admitted for free with any unused ticket or torn ticket stub. Fans who do not have any unused tickets of torn ticket stubs, can pick up a free admission pass at the Swayze Field Ticket Office.
Following Tuesday's game, Ole Miss will conclude the regular season with a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Mississippi State, beginning Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The Rebels can clinch a berth to the SEC Tournament with a win in one of the three games against the Bulldogs.
Ole Miss 12, Arkansas State 4 (May 13, 2002 at Jonesboro, Ark.)----------------------------------------------------------------------Ole Miss............ 340 400 001 - 12 15 2 (36-16)Arkansas State...... 011 002 000 - 4 8 3 (21-31)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Ole Miss - M. Gray; J. Grant(7); A. Simontis(8); D. Hall(9). Arkansas State - DOVE;ANDERSON(2); PETTY(4); HAMILTON(5); KINCANNON(7); THOMAS(8); LOVELL(9).Win-M. Gray(4-0) Loss-DOVE(2-6) T-2:56 A-378HR UM - Hutchinson (10); D. Rogers (6); D. Cliburn (3).HR ASU - LAPKA (3).Game notes:Sterbens (UM) extends hit streak to career-best 18 games, tying him for thesecond longest streak in school history.Rogers (UM) hits 1st career grand slam in the 2nd inning.UM to host McNeese State Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.
