The University of Mississippi Athletics
Team Nikhazy Takes 2020 Pizza Bowl Title
11/15/2020 | Baseball
Nikhazy's Squad Pours on Runs in 10-7 Victory to Close Fall Season
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss baseball team wrapped up its fall season Sunday with a thrilling back-and-forth Pizza Bowl matchup that saw 17 runs scored. Ultimately, the red team, managed by Doug Nikhazy, edged the blue team, led by Gunnar Hoglund, 10-7.
Team Hoglund opened the game strong as Kevin Graham launched a one-out home run to give his squad the early 1-0 lead. Team Nikhazy answered right back in the bottom half as Ben Van Cleve responded with a two-run home run of his own to make it a 2-1 contest.
Doug Nikhazy bounced back on the mound with a scoreless second inning, and Team Hoglund starter Brandon Johnson followed suit to keep it 2-1 through two.
As Team Nikhazy went to the bullpen, Team Hoglund feasted at the plate. Graham sparked it once again, this time with a leadoff double. Then Tim Elko, Cael Baker and Cade Sammons strung together three straight base hits to make it a 5-2 game. Then it was Derek Diamond who sent the game's third home run over the right field wall to make it a five-run gap, 7-2.
Team Nikhazy swung right back in the bottom of the third, opening with a base hit by Peyton Chatagnier, followed by a Jacob Gonzalez double. Hayden Leatherwood brought home Chatagnier on an infield single, and Gonzalez scored on a double by Van Cleve to make it 7-4. Hayden Dunhurst then cut the gap to two with a sac fly to center. A wild series followed as Van Cleve stole home, sliding under the Knox Loposer tag to make it a one-run game. Moments later, TJ McCants tied it at seven with a sky-high home run to right.
After a wild third inning, freshman left-hander Luke Baker came on in relief for Team Nikhazy to settle things down, allowing just one baserunner on an infield single in the top of the fourth. The boys in red carried that momentum into the bottom half as Gonzalez singled and Leatherwood doubled to set the stage for a two-RBI single by Van Cleve to make it a 9-7 lead, which proved the difference in the game.
Baker kept on rolling with a one-two-three fifth inning to preserve the two-run lead. Benji Gilbert came back with a one-two-three frame of his own for Team Hoglund. Cody Adcock picked up where Baker left off, allowing just one runner on an error in the sixth before escaping without any damage done.
Chatagnier led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk to send team Hoglund to the bullpen, replacing Gilbert with Braden Forsyth. A pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch brought home a run to make it 10-7 before Forsyth escaped the jam with a McCants flyout.
Team Hoglund threatened in the seventh after Diamond smacked a double down the left field line and wheeled all the way to third on an error in the outfield. However, Max Cioffi was able to escape the jam unscathed. Greer Holston then took the mound for Team Hoglund and kept it a three-run gap with a three-up, three-down inning.
Taylor Broadway kept the string of solid pitching going, mowing down the top of the Team Hoglund lineup in order in the eighth. Holston followed with a second one-two-three frame to keep hope alive for Team Hoglund.
However, Broadway quickly snuffed out that hope, closing the books on a 10-7 Team Nikhazy victory to cap off the fall season.
Team Hoglund opened the game strong as Kevin Graham launched a one-out home run to give his squad the early 1-0 lead. Team Nikhazy answered right back in the bottom half as Ben Van Cleve responded with a two-run home run of his own to make it a 2-1 contest.
Doug Nikhazy bounced back on the mound with a scoreless second inning, and Team Hoglund starter Brandon Johnson followed suit to keep it 2-1 through two.
As Team Nikhazy went to the bullpen, Team Hoglund feasted at the plate. Graham sparked it once again, this time with a leadoff double. Then Tim Elko, Cael Baker and Cade Sammons strung together three straight base hits to make it a 5-2 game. Then it was Derek Diamond who sent the game's third home run over the right field wall to make it a five-run gap, 7-2.
Team Nikhazy swung right back in the bottom of the third, opening with a base hit by Peyton Chatagnier, followed by a Jacob Gonzalez double. Hayden Leatherwood brought home Chatagnier on an infield single, and Gonzalez scored on a double by Van Cleve to make it 7-4. Hayden Dunhurst then cut the gap to two with a sac fly to center. A wild series followed as Van Cleve stole home, sliding under the Knox Loposer tag to make it a one-run game. Moments later, TJ McCants tied it at seven with a sky-high home run to right.
After a wild third inning, freshman left-hander Luke Baker came on in relief for Team Nikhazy to settle things down, allowing just one baserunner on an infield single in the top of the fourth. The boys in red carried that momentum into the bottom half as Gonzalez singled and Leatherwood doubled to set the stage for a two-RBI single by Van Cleve to make it a 9-7 lead, which proved the difference in the game.
Baker kept on rolling with a one-two-three fifth inning to preserve the two-run lead. Benji Gilbert came back with a one-two-three frame of his own for Team Hoglund. Cody Adcock picked up where Baker left off, allowing just one runner on an error in the sixth before escaping without any damage done.
Chatagnier led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk to send team Hoglund to the bullpen, replacing Gilbert with Braden Forsyth. A pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch brought home a run to make it 10-7 before Forsyth escaped the jam with a McCants flyout.
Team Hoglund threatened in the seventh after Diamond smacked a double down the left field line and wheeled all the way to third on an error in the outfield. However, Max Cioffi was able to escape the jam unscathed. Greer Holston then took the mound for Team Hoglund and kept it a three-run gap with a three-up, three-down inning.
Taylor Broadway kept the string of solid pitching going, mowing down the top of the Team Hoglund lineup in order in the eighth. Holston followed with a second one-two-three frame to keep hope alive for Team Hoglund.
However, Broadway quickly snuffed out that hope, closing the books on a 10-7 Team Nikhazy victory to cap off the fall season.
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