The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Sweep Statesmen in Fall Game
10/13/2018 | Baseball
Ole Miss Pours on the Runs Against Delta State
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss baseball team swept Delta State in Saturday's exhibition game against the Division II Statesmen out of Cleveland, Miss. The two teams broke up a 12-inning game into two segments, and the Rebel bats poured on the runs, plating a combined 20 throughout the day to outduel the Statesmen, 20-3.
Head Coach Mike Bianco saw significant production out of his team's young arms on the mound, and watched as his team's bats were able to pile on the runs at the plate. In the second six-inning segment, Rebel pitchers faced just one Statesmen batter over the minimum, as a combined effort of Gunnar Hoglund, Doug Nikhazy, Kaleb Hill, and Parker Caracci were able to stifle any production offensively from Delta State.
An explosive fifth inning in the game's first half propelled the Rebels to a dominating 13-3 victory in the first six innings, while an almost identical frame in the second half was all Ole Miss needed for an easy 7-0 victory. The offense was boosted by just about every bat in the Rebel lineup that combined for 24 hits, 16 in the first half and eight in the second, and 20 runs.
"You like it when you play well," Bianco said. "We can swing it for sure. And we have swung it well all fall."
Junior Grae Kessinger was perhaps the team's brightest spot offensively, going 3-for-4 throughout the two games, with four runs scored. The Rebel shortstop reached base five times, and completed the base path all but once. He hit for two doubles, one single, and reached twice on two defensive mishaps, an error and a walk.
"We played really well. It's a good way to start off fall games," Kessinger said. "We're tired of hitting on each other. It's definitely fun to have a little mix-up."
Sophomore Tyler Keenan also had a significant impact, recording two singles, a double, two RBI and a run in the first six innings' offensive slugfest, and a walk in the second. Sophomore Michael Spears had himself a day, going for a single, triple, walk, two RBI, three runs, and a stolen base.
Junior Cole Zabowski brought the firepower as well, going for a double, two runs, and one RBI. His fellow infielder Jacob Adams also accounted for some runs, delivering three RBI on two singles. Freshman Wilson Galvan, too, made a splash, bringing in some needed insurance runs late in the second game with a two-RBI double.
At the mound, the Rebels found the effort they needed from just about every arm, both young and old.
Junior Will Ethridge led the charge in the first half of the game, going 2.0 innings with three strikeouts and no runners allowed. Freshman Doug Nikhazy also made a dynamic entrance into the game, coming in second in the second segment and also facing the minimum. The freshman added two strikeouts of his own and did not allow an opposing batter to reach base.
Both Kessinger and his coach Bianco commended the young talent all across the diamond, but especially on the mound, with Bianco saying he was "proud of them (new pitchers)."
"All these young guys came out and looked like they belonged," Kessinger said.
Gunnar Hoglund, who started the second segment for the Rebels, faced just six batters in his 2.0 innings pitched. He allowed a single in the second inning, but a dart from the arm of Thomas Dillard behind the plate negated the hit on a caught stealing at second base.
Ole Miss pitchers were facing the minimum through four and two-thirds innings in the second six-inning segment until a Statesmen notched a single off of freshman Kaleb Hill. Hill was flawless except for the one hit allowed, and had an identical line to his successor, Caracci. The Rebel closer, too, allowed a hit of his own, but again negated with a 4-6-3 double play to close out the top of the sixth.
Tyler Myers and Zack Phillips, both junior college transfers, were responsible for the Statesmen's only runs of the day, which all came in the first six-inning segment, but were otherwise clean on the mound. Phillips allowed two runs in two innings, one of which came on a solo home run, but also struck out five to make up for his runs allowed. Myers allowed one run an inning later on an RBI groundout, but went 1-2-3 in the sixth to close out the first half of the game.
The Rebels will be back in action with scrimmages on the following Fridays and Sundays, before they welcome Little Rock to town for the second of two fall exhibition games on Saturday, October 27.
For all Ole Miss Baseball news and information, visit the official athletics site OleMissSports.com. For more social media updates, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Baseball and on Instagram at olemissbsb.
