Rebels pound VCU 14-3 to take the series over the Rams

Oxford, Miss. – No. 3 ranked Ole Miss improved to 6-0 on the young season after a resounding 14-3 defeat Sunday of the visiting Virginia Commonwealth Rams from the Ohio Valley Conference. 

After taking the first game Friday night, 10-4, Saturday’s game was cancelled due to inclement weather. Energy Sunday would decide the weekend series.

The Rebel bats continued their hot streak at the plate, backed by solid pitching, allowing the Rebels to cruise to a relatively easy 14-3 seven inning victory.

The VCU first inning saw the Rebel infield commit two errors, with a wild pitch allowing three runs to cross the plate. The 3-0 deficit was the largest the Rebels had faced this season.

The Ole Miss lineup would not be held down, scoring in six of the seven innings they played, while the Rams would be kept off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.  Doubles, timely singles, and home runs that elicited “beer showers” from the students were all turned in from the Rebels Sunday.

Hitting Notes

Justin Bench and Kevin Graham went 3-for-4 on the day, while Peyton Chatagnier finished 2-for-4.

Graham, who started the season 0-for-9, has been on a 12-for-19 streak since, as well as restarting his on-base streak now totaling four games. 

Bench leads the team with a gaudy .478 batting average, among players who have started every game. Overall, Calvin Harris, currently starting at catcher in place of the injured Hayden Dunhurst, leads with a .500 batting average with 8 hits in 16 at bats.

In the fan-favorite “You Dropped the Bomb on Me” section, sophomore Jacob Gonzalez powered a two-run shot in the second, Captain Tim Elko sent a three-run blast to right field in the fifth inning, and two-sport standout Tywone Malone ended the game with a 104 mile-per-hour, 404-foot blast that scored Jacob Gonzalez. 

The home runs Sunday included Gonzalez’s first of 2022, Elko’s third of the season, and Malone’s first of his Rebel career.  

“It was an amazing feeling to come out and swing it,” said Malone on crushing an outside fast ball.

We've got liftoff 🚀@jakegonzalez717 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/HZRl67obRd

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 27, 2022

Yes, we also have the highlight clip! pic.twitter.com/QCtgAG0wia

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 27, 2022

You asked, we answered.@TywoneMalone | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/lceyrKCJiy

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 27, 2022

On the mound

Starter Drew McDaniel improved to 2-0, throwing three-plus innings and allowing one hit, three walks and one earned run.  The Louisiana native struck out three. 

First-week Saturday starter John Gaddis pitched extremely well in relief, giving up just one hit and issuing no walks. 

“That’s what I try to do every time I go out there, just throw strikes,” Gaddis said about his approach to pitching. 

Brandon Johnson threw a no-hit seventh inning. “…Proud of the way McDaniel handled it (adversity in the first inning),” said head coach Mike Bianco after the game.

DeadSoxy Game Ball

The hot-hitting, multi-faceted, Justin Bench earns Sunday’s DeadSoxy.com Game Ball.  Bench improved his average to .478, going 3 for 4 for the day with 2 RBIs. Congrats to Justin!

KG doubles, Bench singles and the Rebs add a run in the 4th! pic.twitter.com/cWszQMD9Pt

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 27, 2022

Next Up For Ole Miss

The Rebels resume play on Tuesday and Wednesday with mid-week action vs. Louisiana-Monroe.  The Warhawks enter Tuesday’s match-up with a 1-4 record after dropping a shortened game series to Missouri.  ULM has now lost four straight.

Tuesday’s game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch with Jack Washburn set to make the start on the mound. Wednesday’s start is 4:00 p.m. with Hunter Elliot taking the mound. 

Improving weather in Oxford is forecast for this week —  sunny with a high of 66 Tuesday and 70 Wednesday…and hopefully some showers of the beer variety.

Hotty Toddy!