Ole Miss baseball dominates VCU, 10-4, in game one of series
OXFORD, Miss. – After a boost in the polls from sweeping an opening-weekend series, No. 2-ranked Ole Miss started off this weekend’s series with a 10-4 win over Virginia Commonwealth on a cold afternoon at Swayze Field.
Derek Diamond (1-0) got his second start of the year, getting to work fast in the top of the first. Diamond recorded two promising strikeouts, only to see the Rams secure a baserunner by error followed by a double down the line to score the runner and make it 1-0.
Reagan Burford got things going for the Rebels in the bottom of the second with a double to left, scoring TJ McCants and Ben Van Cleve. Burford eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Peyton Chatagnier, making it 3-1 Ole Miss after two.
Trailed for a whole inning and a half. @burford_reagan had something to say about that… pic.twitter.com/HUGLvn6Gpz
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2022
The Rams collected two hits in the top of the fourth, eventually scoring on an error that cut the Ole Miss lead to 3-2. It was a sloppier-than-usual defensive outing for the Rebs, as they ended the night with three errors.
However, VCU committed five errors and the Rebels capitalized.
The bottom of the fourth saw Ole Miss add two more runs via a double from Calvin Harris that scored Van Cleve and another sacrifice fly from Chatagnier that scored Burford and gave the Rebs a 5-2 lead.
Stay hot, @Calvin_Harris33 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Um7z8CewNR
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2022
Kevin Graham kept the bats going in the bottom of the fifth bringing showers from the fans in right field after his solo shot to put the Rebels up 6-2.
There's just no stopping KG right now!@kevgraham11 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/mjuCY0jb5p
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2022
The Rebels capitalized on a long, error-filled bottom of the sixth from VCU that busted the game open for head coach Mike Bianco’s squad. The Rebs scored four runs on only three hits and took a 10-2 lead to end the sixth.
Ole Miss tabbed eight hits on the night with most of the runs resulting from the five errors from the Rams. Burford had a hit and drove in three runs, while Chatagnier recorded three sacrifice flies to give him three RBIs on the night.
DeadSoxy Game Ball
It was Harris, playing catcher for the injured Hayden Dunhurst, who went 2-for-3 at the plate, leading the Rebs in hits Friday night.
For his play behind the plate and his night batting, he earns the DeadSoxy.com game ball.
“We’re more concerned with the defense, and (Harris has) been brilliant,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said.
“But he’s just been getting good swings off, getting into good counts…we’re just asking him to move the ball and he’s done more than that. It’s always nice when somebody goes down and a guy step up.”
Head coach Mike Bianco on Calvin Harris
On the Mound
Diamond had another solid outing, pitching five innings with two strikeouts, a walk, five hits allowed along with the two runs – neither of which were earned. Diamond’s ERA is down to 1.80 on the season.
Mitch Murrell and Mason Nichols also saw an inning each in relief, performing well, but it was Hunter Elliot who stole the show out of the bullpen with four strikeouts in two innings of work.
“Really stoked for (Elliot),” Diamond said about the freshman reliever.
“We’ve all been high on him for a while. Last week wasn’t his best so it was good to see him get some big outs against a good offense.”
Derek Diamond on Hunter Elliot
Next Up
Ole Miss (5-0) is back in action tomorrow at noon in game two of the series.
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy)
Kameron Wicker
Kam is a senior at Ole Miss, currently pursuing a degree in Journalism. Even though he's from Delhi, Louisiana, that didn't stop Kam from growing up a diehard Ole Miss fan. He's a sports guru who watches and follows all sports at all times. He lettered four years in football and baseball in high school and is an avid Saints, Pelicans, and Astros fan. In his free time, you can find him watching sports or at the rec participating in them.
