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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Austin Peay
No. 16 Ole Miss Downs Austin Peay 4-3
3/6/2007 | Baseball
C.J. Ketchum went 2-for-3 at the plate with a solo home run to start the scoring for the Rebels, as he led four Rebels with multiple hits on the night. Justin Henry, Jordan Henry and Zach Miller all went 2-for-4 at the plate to pace the Rebel offense.
Jesse Simpson (1-0) picked up the win in relief as he entered the game in the sixth inning, turning in 2.2 innings of work. Simpson held the Governors scoreless and hitless as he struck out three batters. Scott Bittle picked up his fifth save of the season, closing out the final 1.1 innings as he held the governors hitless with three strikeouts.
Nathan Baker drew the start, working 5.0 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits. He walked one and struck out five on the night.
Stephen Huff (0-2) suffered the loss for Austin Peay as he worked 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
“I thought we swung the bats well tonight and played well offensively, even if it doesn’t show on the box score,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “As we became more aggressive things got better offensively and that makes two solid offensive outings in a row.”
The Rebels got on the board in the second as Ketchum led off the inning with a home run to left center. A Justin Henry triple to right field drove two more runs across as Jordan Henry and Zach Miller scored. Henry singled and moved to third on a single to center field from Miller. Miller moved to second on the throw to third as Austin Peay tried to get Jordan Henry out at third. Ole Miss led
The Governors loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third with a single, a fielding error on a sac bunt and a hit by pitch. A bunt single down the first base line scored a run and kept the bases loaded for the Governors. A single to second plated a second run as the Governors closed the gap to one run and kept the bases loaded. Austin Peay then hit into a double play at shortstop, removing two base-runners but plating a run and moving a runner to third. The Rebels got out of the inning as Austin Peay tried to steal home and Baker threw to Kliman, who applied the tag at home for the third out of the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Ole Miss regained the lead in the sixth when Alex Kliman doubled to left field, scoring Evan Button from third. Button entered the game as a pinch runner at first for C.J. Ketchum following a single for the designated hitter. Button then stole second and third to get into position for Kliman’s hit.
Simpson and Bittle combined to shut down the Governors down the stretch as Simpson picked up the win and Bittle collected the save.
Ole Miss and Austin Peay will return to action on Wednesday when the two teams conclude the two-game set. First-pitch is set for
