The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Maine
No. 19 Rebels Break Out Bats, Down Maine 9-2
2/24/2006 | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2006
Box Score
OXFORD, Miss. - Presesason All-America selection Mark Wright took the first pitch he saw 407 feet over the left field wall to score two runs in the bottom of the first, and that was all it took to get the Rebel bats back on track as No. 19 Ole Miss (4-1) defeated Maine (0-1) by a score of 9-2 on Friday.
Six Rebels tallied two hits each on the night as Ole Miss out-hit the Black Bears 14-7 on the night. Justin Brashear led the Rebels as he went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. Chris Coghlan, also a preseason All-America selection went 1-for-2 at the plate with four runs scored, as he drew two walks and was hit by a pitch. Coghlan did not record his first official at bat for the game until the sixth inning when he singled up the middle.
Tommy Baumgardner (2-0) picked up the win for Ole Miss as he allowed two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out a career-high six. Baumgardner turned in 6.0 innings of work for the Rebels. Lance Lynn came on in relief, working 3.0 innings allowing only one hit to earn his first save as a Rebel.
Troy Martin (0-1) suffered the loss for Maine in their season opener as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits while walking one and striking out one in 3.0 innings of work. John Tesseyman came on in relief to close out the game, working 5.0 innings of work. He held the Rebels to only two runs on four hits while walking and striking out two.
"A lot of guys swung the bat well today," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "Chris Coghlan was great on the bases. Mark Wright got us off to a great start. Evan Button and Justin Brashear came up big for us tonight with key RBIs."
Coghlan stole three bases on the night, bringing his season total to five.
The Rebels got on the board in the first inning on Wright's two run shot to left field and then proceeded to add two runs in the second, three runs in the third and a single run in the fourth on the way to a 8-0 lead.
Maine got on the board in the sixth when the Black Bears notched two runs. With two outs, Joel Barrett doubled to left center and then advanced to third on a passed ball. Ryan Quintal then singled to left field to score Barrett and put Maine on the board. Curt Smith then doubled to left field, scoring Quintal and giving Maine its only two runs of the game.
Danny Menendez led the Black Bears at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance.
Ole Miss and Maine will take the field for the second game of the series Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
