LIVE BLOG: No. 2 Ole Miss vs. VCU (Game 1)
OXFORD, Miss. — No. 2 Ole Miss baseball hosts VCU today at Swayze with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Rebels and Rams, making VCU the 194th unique opponent in Ole Miss baseball history.
We’ve got a live blog of all the action!
WE WILL BRING YOU A BATTER-BY-BATTER UPDATE HERE IN OUR LIVE BLOG THROUGHOUT THE GAME.
SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES AND HIT REFRESH AS NEEDED.
FINAL: VCU 4, OLE MISS 10
Rebels take game one of the series with VCU, 10-4!
INNING 9
Top of 9th
Ole Miss leads 10-2 as we head into the ninth. Mason Nichols to the mound for Murrell. Due up for VCU: 7-8-9.
Robinson: Nichols gets Robinson to go down swinging!
Nippolt: He draws a full-count walk. VCU has runner on first, one out.
Roney: He’s on to pinch hit for Benzin. Nichols gets Roney swinging! Two outs, runner on first. VCU down to its last out.
Amiss: He singles to left. VCU has runners on first and second with two outs.
O’Bryan: He reaches on a throwing error by Chatagnier. Nippolt scores. VCU with runners on the corners. 10-3, Ole Miss.
Locklear: He singles through the left side and scores Amiss. VUC has runners on first and second with two outs. Rebels lead 10-4.
Haydak: The first baseman goes down swinging and that’s the ballgame!
INNING 8
Top of 8th
Due up for VCU in the 8th: 3-4-5. Mitch Murrell to the mound for Hunter Elliot. Ole Miss leads the Rams 10-2.
Locklear: He is hit by pitch. Leadoff runner on for the Rams.
Haydak: Way to hang in there, Murrell! He gets Haydak to pop up to right field after 12 pitches! VCU has runner on first, one out.
Barnett: He pinch hits for Carlone, and he goes down looking!
Gibbs: He’s on to pinch hit for Seldon. VCU has runner on first, two outs. Murrell gets Gibbs to go down swinging!
Bottom of 8th
With a 10-2 lead, Ole Miss comes up to bat in the bottom of the 8th. Due up: Wood (pinch hitting for Bench)-Graham-Malone (pinch hitting for Elko).
Garrett Wood: Wood doubles to left center to lead things off in the 8th!
Kevin Graham: He pops up to second. Rebels have one out, runner on second.
Tywone Malone: Malone is up to bat for Elko. The freshman strikes out.
Jacob Gonzalez: Gonzalez flies out to left and to the ninth we go.
END OF 8TH INNING: VCU 2, OLE MISS 10
INNING 7
Top of 7th
Ole Miss pushes the lead to 10-2. Hunter Elliott back to the mound for the Rebels. Due up for VCU: 8-9-1.
O’Malley: He gets a leadoff single to left for the Rams.
Benzin pinch hits for Mathis: Benzin strikes out swinging! One out, runner on first.
Amiss: He flies out to center. Two outs, runner on first.
O’Bryan: He flies out to right and that’s it for VCU in the seventh!
Bottom of 7th
The Rebels lead VCU 10-2 as we head to the bottom of the 7th. Due up for the Rebels: 7-8-9 aka McCants (Sapp)-Burford (Kramer)-Harris.
Sapp: Sapp pinch hits for McCants. He grounds out to the pitcher.
Kramer: Kramer pinch hits for Burford. He grounds out to short.
Harris: Calvin draws a two-out walk. Rebs with runner on first. Chatagnier up to bat.
Peyton Chatagnier: The Ole Miss second baseman flies out to center. To the 8th we go.
END OF 7TH INNING: VCU 2, OLE MISS 10
INNING 6
Ole Miss leads 6-2 as the sixth inning starts. *New pitcher for the Rebels as Hunter Elliot takes the mound to relieve Derek Diamond.
Due up for the Rams: 5-6-7.
Diamond’s final line: 5 IP | 5H | 2R | 0 ER | 1 BB | 2K | 85 Total pitches
Top of the 6th
Carlone: Elliott gets leadoff batter Carlone to go down swinging!
Selden: Elliott gets Selden to go down looking. First two strikeouts for Elliot in an Ole Miss uniform.
Hujsak: He goes down swinging!
That’s three up, three down for Hunter Elliott!
Bottom of the 6th
Rebels lead 6-2 as we head to B6. Due up for Ole Miss: McCants-Burford-Harris.
McCants: The Rebel right fielder gets a leadoff single to right field!
Burford: McCants gets to second on a passed ball to Burford. He then steals third! Rebels with no outs, RISP. Burford reaches on a fielding error by the CF. McCants scores! Burford to second. Ole Miss now leads 7-2.
*Pitching change for VCU as Perkins to the mound for Delane
Harris: The Ole Miss catcher singles to right field! Burford to third. Rebels with runners on the corners and no outs.
*Pitching change for VCU as Hungate takes the mound for Perkins.
Chatagnier: Ole Miss second baseman with the SAC fly to left field. Burford scores and Ole Miss takes an 8-2 lead!
Bench: Justin flies out to right field. Rebels have two outs, runner on first.
Kevin Graham: The left fielder reaches on a fielding error by the second baseman for VCU. Harris to second. Rebels with runners on first and second with two outs.
Tim Elko: Captain singles to second! Rebels have bases loaded, two outs.
Jacob Gonzalez: Ducks on the pond as the Ole Miss shortstop steps up to bat. Two runs score as he reaches on a muffed throw by the first baseman. Elko out at second, Graham and Harris score and that’s the end of the sixth.
END OF 6TH INNING: VCU 2, OLE MISS 10
INNING 5
Top of the 5th
Ole Miss takes a 5-2 lead heading into the top of the 5th. Due up for VCU: 1-2-3. Derek Diamond out to the mound for the 5th.
Diamond has thrown 63 total pitches as the inning starts.
Amiss: Leadoff walk for VCU’s Amiss.
O’Bryan: Reaches on a fielder’s choice. Amiss out at second (2b to ss). Runner on first with one out.
Play under review as to whether O’Bryan was safe at first. Call is confirmed.
Locklear: Three-hole hitter Locklear singles up the middle. O’Bryan gets to second. VCU with runners on first and second and one out.
Haydak: The cleanup batter for VCU is up now, and he flies out to center. Two outs, runners on first and second for the Rams.
That was the 84th pitch of the day for Diamond.
Carlone: Five hole hitter for VCU up. O’Bryan Is out at third (pitcher to third) as he’s caught stealing!
Bottom of the 5th
Rebels enter the B5 with a 5-2 lead over VCU. Due up for Ole Miss will be: Kevin Graham-Tim Elko-Jacob Gonzalez.
Graham: BEER SHOWERS AT SWAYZE!!! KEVIN GRAHAM HOMERS TO RIGHT FIELD!! REBELS LEAD 6-2!
Elko: The Captain flies out to center. One out, nobody on.
Gonzalez: The Ole Miss shortstop grounds out to second. Rebels with two outs, nobody on after Graham’s homer.
Hayden Leatherwood: Leatherwood to pinch hit for Van Cleve. He is out at first (2b to p). That’s the end of the fifth.
END OF THE 5TH INNING: VCU 2, Ole Miss 6
INNING 4
Top of the 4th
Derek Diamond back to the mound for Ole Miss with a 3-1 Rebel lead. Due up for VCU: 4-5-6.
Haydak: Leadoff out as Haydak pops up to Chatagnier at second.
Carlone: Second out of the inning as Carlone pops up to Elko at first. Nobody on base.
Selden: Two-out single to left for Selden.
Hujsak: The VCU shortstop singles to left field. Selden goes to second. Two outs, runners on first and second for the Rams. Rebels lead 3-1 and 8-hole hitter for VCU is up to bat next.
O’Malley: Second baseman O’Malley reaches on a fielding error by Ole Miss shortstop. Selden scores (unearned) and Hujsak goes to third. Ole Miss lead cut to 3-2.
Mathis: He grounds out to second to end the top of the 4th.
Bottom of 4th
Ole Miss leads VCU, 3-2. Due up for Ole Miss In the fourth: Van Cleve-McCants-Burford.
*Pitching change for VCU: Delane to the mound for Masloff.
Ben Van Cleve: Ben singles to second! Rebs with leadoff runner on base.
TJ McCants: The Rebel right fielder draws a walk and the Rebs have runners on first and second, no outs.
Reagan Burford: Ole Miss third baseman Burford reaches on a fielder’s choice. McCants out at second, but Van Cleve gets to third! One out, Runners on the corners for Ole Miss.
Calvin Harris: The Rebs’ catcher steps up to bat with runners on the corners and one out. Ole Miss leads 3-2. HARRIS WITH AN RBI double down the right field line that scores Van Cleve! Rebels lead 4-2.
Peyton Chatagnier: After Harris’ double, Chatagnier steps up to bat with one out and runners on second and third. He gets a SAC fly to left that scores Burford. Ole Miss now leads 5-2!
Justin Bench: Bench flies out to center and the Rebs strand a runner on second. But they score 2 in the fourth inning to take a 5-2 lead over VCU.
END OF 4TH INNING: VCU 2, OLE MISS 5
INNING 3
Top of the 3rd
Ole Miss now has a 3-1 lead over VCU. Derek Diamond back to the mound for the Rebels. Due up for VCU: 9-1-2.
Mathis: Leadoff fly out for the Rams. Mathis flies out to Kevin Graham in left field.
Amiss: One out double to left field. VCU with runner on, one out.
O’Bryan: He flies out to right field and Amiss advances to third. One RISP for VCU with two outs. Three-hole hitter up to bat next.
Locklear: Locklear grounds out to second and the top of the third is done.
Bottom of 3rd
Rebels lead VCU 3-1 as we go to the bottom of the third. Due up for Ole Miss: Graham-Elko-Gonzalez.
Kevin Graham: The Rebs’ left fielder strikes out swinging after fouling off the first two pitches.
Tim Elko: The Captain lines out to short. Ole Miss has two outs, nobody on.
Jacob Gonzalez: The shortstop pops up to center and to the fourth we go.
END OF 3RD INNING: VCU 1, OLE MISS 3
INNING 2
Top of the 2nd
VCU has a 1-0 lead over the Rebels as we start the second. Due up for the Rams will be 6-7-8. Derek Diamond back to the mound for Ole Miss.
Selden: Leadoff batter for the Rams this inning grounds out to second. Great defensive play by Chatagnier!
Hujsak: He fouls out to catcher Calvin Harris, and VCU has two outs, nobody on.
O’Malley: The freshman fouls out to Derek Diamond! Three up, three down.
Bottom of the 2nd
Rebels trail VCU 1-0 as we head to B2. Due up for the Rebels: Van Cleve-McCants-Burford.
Ben Van Cleve: Van Cleve draws a leadoff walk, his fourth free base of the season.
TJ McCants: He draws a walk. Rebs have runners on first and second with no outs.
Reagan Burford: Burford DOUBLES DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE. 2RBI as McCants and Van Cleve score! Rebels take a 2-1 lead and have RISP with no outs.
Calvin Harris: The Ole Miss catcher flies out to deep center. Burford tags and gets to third. Rebs have RISP, one out.
Chatagnier: Peyton with the SAC fly to left that scores Burford! Ole Miss takes a 3-1 lead with two outs.
Justin Bench: Bench grounds out to short to end the second.
END OF 2ND INNING: VCU 1, OLE MISS 3
INNING 1
Top of the 1st
Derek Diamond will take the mound for Ole Miss to start the game. Due up for VCU: Logan Amiss (RF), Scottie O’Bryan (CF), and Tyler Locklear (3b).
Amiss: Diamond gets Amiss to go down swinging for the first out of the game!
O’Bryan: Another strike out, this time of O’Bryan as he goes down looking!
Locklear: The third baseman for VCU reaches on a fielding error by the Rebels’ 3b. Two outs, runner on first. 0-0.
Michael Hydak: Hydak doubles down the left field line. Locklear scores (unearned). VCU takes a 1-0 lead over the Rebels. Two outs.
DH Will Carlone: Carlone grounds out and that ends the frame. VCU takes a 1-0 lead.
Bottom of the 1st
Due up for Ole Miss: Peyton Chatagnier, Justin Bench, Kevin Graham. VCU holds a 1-0 lead over the Rebels.
Peyton Chatagnier: The Ole Miss second baseman grounds out to short. One out for the Rebs.
Justin Bench: Bench grounds out to third. Two outs, nobody on for Ole Miss. Graham up next.
Kevin Graham: Graham reaches on a fielding error by the VCU shortstop. Rebels with on one, two outs. Tim Elko up to bat.
Tim Elko: The Captain reaches on a throwing error by the third baseman. Graham to second. Rebels have runners on first and second with two outs.
Jacob Gonzalez: Rebels’ shortstop strikes out looking and to the T2 we go.
END OF 1ST INNING: VCU 1, OLE MISS 0
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
