Ole Miss defeats Memphis, 7-5, in come-from-behind win
The Ole Miss baseball team used a three-run seventh inning to come from behind and defeat the Memphis Tigers, 7-5, Tuesday night at AutoZone Park in Memphis. The Rebels (15-14) notched 13 hits in the win over the Tigers (17-7) and hit a blistering .467 (7-for-15) with two outs.
Memphis got off to a great start by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning, and the Tigers added to their lead in the second when right fielder Chris Carrier hit a solo home run to left-center.
Orvis had a big two-RBI double against Memphis Tuesday night (File photo from Stetson game courtesy of Dan Anderson)
It would be the fifth inning before the Rebels would get on the board, but they did so in a big way. With two outs, Ole Miss got three straight singles to plate the Rebels first run of the evening: Errol Robinson to right field, J.B. Woodman to left field, and Colby Bortles to left field, which scored Robinson. Sikes Orvis then came in and delivered a two-RBI double to left center that scored Bortles and Woodman and tied the game at 3-3.
The seventh inning was also huge for the Rebels. Freshman Will Golsan got a lead-off walk and advanced to third on a single by Robinson. Golsan was then able to score on a wild pitch to the next Rebel batter, J.B. Woodman. Woodman, too, was walked—and the Tigers paid the price, as third baseman Colby Bortles blew the game open when he hammered a two-run double to deep left field. This made it 6-3, Rebels, going into the bottom of the seventh.
The Tigers would not go down without a fight. They scored one run in the seventh and one in the eighth, to make it 6-5, Ole Miss, going into the ninth inning. However, Ole Miss center fielder J.B. Woodman hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to give the Rebels an insurance run going into the bottom of the inning.
After holding Memphis scoreless in the ninth, Wyatt Short picked up the save for Ole Miss, his fourth of the season.
Rebel pitcher Matt Denny was credited with the win, his first decision of the season. Denny gave up one run on one hit in one inning of relief.
Sophomore Evan Anderson pitched the first 3.2 innings, giving up three runs—only one of which was earned—on six hits. Sophomore Wyatt Short pitched four outs en route to earning the save.
Offensive Stat Comparison
Ole Miss out-hit the Tigers, .342 to .300 on the night.
Next Up: The Rebels return to Swayze Field this weekend as they host the University of Tennessee in a conference matchup. Game one will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT Friday night, April 3, with junior Christian Trent expected to take the mound. Ole Miss will send out redshirt-sophomore Brady Bramlett for game two Saturday, April 4, scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. CT. The finale of the conference series is set for Sunday afternoon, April 5, at 1:30 p.m. CT.
