The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, April 25
Oxford, Miss.
8 PM
Ole Miss
28-15, 11-8
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Texas A&M
30-13-1, 11-7-1
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Ole Miss
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Dillard, Rebels Walk Off Aggies in 11th Inning
4/26/2019 | Baseball
Thomas Dillard Delivers Game-Winning RBI Single in 5-4 Victory
OXFORD, Miss. – Junior Thomas Dillard assumed the role of hero once again as he put away the No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies with a walk-off, two-RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning right as the clock struck midnight, giving No. 17 Ole Miss a 5-4 victory to open the series.
The Rebel bats were stifled by Aggie ace John Doxakis for most of the game but came alive in late innings and worked to come-from-behind win to open the series. The Aggies were able to maintain a 3-0 lead for most of the game, but after the Rebels were able to chase Doxakis, the home team was able to chip away and string together timely hits to come back on the Aggies and force extra innings at Swayze Field. Texas A&M didn't go away quietly, taking the lead themselves in the top of the eleventh, forcing Ole Miss to put up at least one run or face an opening night defeat.
After loading the bases in the bottom half of the inning, Dillard put the team on his back and delivered with his second walk-off hit of the year, a two-RBI single right back up the middle to score Grae Kessinger and Ryan Olenek and give the Rebels a 5-4 victory.
Will Ethridge was fantastic in the start tonight, setting a new career best in innings pitched with 8.0 quality frames of work on 117 pitches to outduel Doxakis. He quietly worked to seven strikeouts to just one walk and allowed only three runs on six hits. Ethridge was able to keep the game within striking distance before he handed the ball off to the Rebel closer, Parker Caracci.
The Rebel pitching staff delivered an all-around quality performance to match the dominant arms of the Aggie bullpen, and even while Texas A&M pitching shut down the Rebel bats in early innings, the Ole Miss arms ensured that the game was never too far out of reach.
After Ole Miss was able to tie the ballgame with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth, head coach Mike Bianco elected to turn to his closer in a knotted Friday night matchup. He worked through two innings without a glitch, facing the minimum of six batters while working up four strikeouts.
In the top of the 11th inning, a leadoff walk would come back around to haunt Caracci when a wild pitch resulted in the go-ahead run for the Aggies one pitch before the Rebel closer was able to end the inning with a strikeout.
The Texas A&M run meant that the Rebels would have to put at least one run on the board to stay alive, and the top of the order worked quickly to accomplish just that. Olenek sparked the rally with a single to left center, before Kessinger followed it up with a single up the middle of his own. Tyler Keenan drew a walk to load the bases with one out and send the daunting Dillard to the plate with the bases full.
On a full count, Dillard bounced a sharply-hit ground ball off the pitcher's mound, sending first Olenek, and then Kessinger, to the plate easily, good for his second walk-off hit of the season.
The Rebels move to 11-8 in the SEC, and 28-15 overall on the year, and will look to go for the series victory over their league rival Texas A&M tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. from Swayze Field.
Quick Hits
- Ole Miss improves to 28-15 on the year, and 11-8 in SEC play.
- Thomas Dillard now has the Rebels' only two walk-off wins this season, with today's victory and a walk-off homer against Long Beach State earlier this year.
- Head Coach Mike Bianco is now tied for third on the SEC's all-time wins list with 738 victories since his tenure at Ole Miss began.
- Today's game was the longest in terms of innings that the Rebels' have played in all season, and the longest at Swayze Field since Ole Miss hosted Georgia State for an 11-inning affair in 2017.
- After trailing 3-0 most of the ballgame, the Rebels rallied to win their 13th come-from-behind win of the season, and the fourth in SEC play.
- Grae Kessinger has now reached base in 31 consecutive games after doubling today for the Rebels' first hit of the night.
- Will Ethridge turned in one of his best starts to date, going a career-long 8.0 IP with seven K's, including three in the eighth inning at the 115 pitch mark.
- Both starting pitchers tonight turned in at least 7.0 IP and 110 pitches.
- Three of Parker Caracci's last five appearances have seen the Rebel closer eclipse 2.0 innings, including two outings of at least 3.0 IP.
- Caracci also picked up his second win of the season after going the final 3.0 innings.
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.
The Rebel bats were stifled by Aggie ace John Doxakis for most of the game but came alive in late innings and worked to come-from-behind win to open the series. The Aggies were able to maintain a 3-0 lead for most of the game, but after the Rebels were able to chase Doxakis, the home team was able to chip away and string together timely hits to come back on the Aggies and force extra innings at Swayze Field. Texas A&M didn't go away quietly, taking the lead themselves in the top of the eleventh, forcing Ole Miss to put up at least one run or face an opening night defeat.
After loading the bases in the bottom half of the inning, Dillard put the team on his back and delivered with his second walk-off hit of the year, a two-RBI single right back up the middle to score Grae Kessinger and Ryan Olenek and give the Rebels a 5-4 victory.
Will Ethridge was fantastic in the start tonight, setting a new career best in innings pitched with 8.0 quality frames of work on 117 pitches to outduel Doxakis. He quietly worked to seven strikeouts to just one walk and allowed only three runs on six hits. Ethridge was able to keep the game within striking distance before he handed the ball off to the Rebel closer, Parker Caracci.
The Rebel pitching staff delivered an all-around quality performance to match the dominant arms of the Aggie bullpen, and even while Texas A&M pitching shut down the Rebel bats in early innings, the Ole Miss arms ensured that the game was never too far out of reach.
After Ole Miss was able to tie the ballgame with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth, head coach Mike Bianco elected to turn to his closer in a knotted Friday night matchup. He worked through two innings without a glitch, facing the minimum of six batters while working up four strikeouts.
In the top of the 11th inning, a leadoff walk would come back around to haunt Caracci when a wild pitch resulted in the go-ahead run for the Aggies one pitch before the Rebel closer was able to end the inning with a strikeout.
The Texas A&M run meant that the Rebels would have to put at least one run on the board to stay alive, and the top of the order worked quickly to accomplish just that. Olenek sparked the rally with a single to left center, before Kessinger followed it up with a single up the middle of his own. Tyler Keenan drew a walk to load the bases with one out and send the daunting Dillard to the plate with the bases full.
On a full count, Dillard bounced a sharply-hit ground ball off the pitcher's mound, sending first Olenek, and then Kessinger, to the plate easily, good for his second walk-off hit of the season.
The Rebels move to 11-8 in the SEC, and 28-15 overall on the year, and will look to go for the series victory over their league rival Texas A&M tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. from Swayze Field.
Quick Hits
- Ole Miss improves to 28-15 on the year, and 11-8 in SEC play.
- Thomas Dillard now has the Rebels' only two walk-off wins this season, with today's victory and a walk-off homer against Long Beach State earlier this year.
- Head Coach Mike Bianco is now tied for third on the SEC's all-time wins list with 738 victories since his tenure at Ole Miss began.
- Today's game was the longest in terms of innings that the Rebels' have played in all season, and the longest at Swayze Field since Ole Miss hosted Georgia State for an 11-inning affair in 2017.
- After trailing 3-0 most of the ballgame, the Rebels rallied to win their 13th come-from-behind win of the season, and the fourth in SEC play.
- Grae Kessinger has now reached base in 31 consecutive games after doubling today for the Rebels' first hit of the night.
- Will Ethridge turned in one of his best starts to date, going a career-long 8.0 IP with seven K's, including three in the eighth inning at the 115 pitch mark.
- Both starting pitchers tonight turned in at least 7.0 IP and 110 pitches.
- Three of Parker Caracci's last five appearances have seen the Rebel closer eclipse 2.0 innings, including two outings of at least 3.0 IP.
- Caracci also picked up his second win of the season after going the final 3.0 innings.
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Caracci, Parker (2-2)
L: MENEFEE (3-1)
Batting:
2B: FRIZZELL 1
RBI: BLAKE 1 ; HOEHNER 1 ; FRIZZELL 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BLAUM 1 ; FOSTER 1 ; BLAKE 1 ; HOEHNER 1
HBP: DELOACH 1 ; FOSTER 1 ; BLAKE 1
Batting:
2B: Olenek, Ryan 1 ; Kessinger, Grae 1
RBI: Dillard, Thomas 2 ; Graham, Kevin 1
SH: Johnson, Cooper 1
SF: Graham, Kevin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Olenek, Ryan 1 ; Kessinger, Grae 1 ; Keenan, Tyler 1 ; Dillard, Thomas 1 ; Gindl, Carl 1
SB: Kessinger, Grae 1
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballC/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballIF/OF/RHP
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