LIVE BLOG: Ole Miss vs. Oral Roberts (Game 1)
OXFORD, Miss. — No. 2 Ole Miss (11-1) hosts Oral Roberts (9-3) this weekend in a three-game series at Swayze.  First pitch for today’s game starts at 1:00 p.m., and we’ve got your LIVE BLOG of all the action.
WE WILL BRING YOU A BATTER-BY-BATTER UPDATE HERE IN OUR LIVE BLOG THROUGHOUT THE GAME. SCORING UPDATES APPEAR IN GREEN.Â
SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES AND HIT REFRESH AS NEEDED.Â
FINAL: ORAL ROBERTS 2, OLE MISS 16
Pitching: John Gaddis gets the win for Ole Miss and moves to 2-0.
Batting Superlatives:Â
Elko 3-3: HR, 7 RBI
Bench 2-3, 1 RBI
Burford 2-4, 2B (2), 1 RBI
Chatagnier 1-3: 2B, 2RBI
Leatherwood 1-2, 2 RBI
Here’s the Rebels’ starting lineup for today:
INNING 9
As we head to the top of the ninth, Ole Miss leads Oral Roberts, 16-2. Due up for the Golden Knights will be: 1-2-3. Josh Mallitz back to the mound for the Rebels.Â
Top of 9th
Shannon: He’s on to pinch-hit for leadoff batter McCroskey. He’s hitting .333 on the season. Mallitz gets him to go down swinging!! ONE OUT!Â
Criquet: Criquet is pinch hitting for McCroskey. Mallitz gets him swinging! TWO OUTS.
Baumgartner: He grounds out and that’s ballgame!
INNING 8
Ole Miss leads 16-2 as we start the 8th.
*New pitcher for the Rebels as Josh Mallitz will take the mound for Mason Nichols. Due up for ORU: 7-8-9.Â
Mason Nichols’ line: 2.0 IP | 0 R | 2 H | 0 BB | 0 K | 40 TP
Top of 8th
Quinn: He’s 2-for-3 today, but grounds out to second. ONE OUT.
Lindsly: He’s on to pinch hit for 8-hole hitter Jones. He fouls out to third. TWO OUTS.
Beichler: Mallitz gets him to go down looking! Three up, three down for Mallitz and the Rebels!
Bottom of the 8th
Rebels are leading Oral Roberts, 16-2. Due up for Ole Miss will be: 1-2-3, Kramer-Tolley-Wood.Â
Kramer: He is pinch hitting for Chatagnier. John singles to center and the Rebels have the leadoff man aboard.
Tolley: He strikes out for the first out of the frame. Rebels with man on first.
Wood: He strikes out and the Rebels have TWO OUTS, runner on first.
Tywone Malone: Big fella is out at first (short to second).
END OF 8TH: ORAL ROBERTS 2, OLE MISS 16
INNING 7
Ole Miss leads ORU 14-2 as we start the 7th. Due up for the Golden Knights will be: 2-3-4. Mason Nichols back out to the mound for Ole Miss. Banks Tolley to right field and McCants to center field.Â
Top of 7th
McMurray: Leadoff man McMurray singles to left field.
Demeter: The ORU DH pops up to short. ONE OUT.
Breeze: He singles to second. Oral Roberts has runners on first and second, one out.
Denny: He reaches on a FC. Breeze is out at second (shortstop to second). McMurray to third. Runners on the corners, two outs.
Loftin: ORU shortstop comes up to bat with runners on corners, two outs. ORU trails Ole Miss 14-2. He flies out to right field to end the frame.
Bottom of 7th
Ole Miss leads Oral Roberts, 14-2. Due up for the Rebels: 3-4-5.Â
Wood: Wood on to pinch hit for Gonzalez, and he grounds out to second. One out.
Tywone Malone: He’s on to pinch hit for the Captain. He’s hitting .667 on the season. He singles to right center! Rebels have runners on first, one out.
TJ McCants: Rebel RF McCants up to bat next. He draws a walk. Rebels have McCants on first, Malone on second, with one out.
Knox Loposer: Knox is pinch hitting for Dunhurst. He’s hitting .333 this season. He steps up with runners on first and second, one out. He’s HBP. Rebels have bases loaded, one out.
*New pitcher for Oral Roberts as Sam Rainwater to the mound for Widener.
Ben Van Cleve: Van Cleve reaches on a fielding error by the ORU 3rd baseman. McCants and Malone both score. Rebels lead 16-2. Van Cleve to second, Loposer to third.Â
Hudson Sapp: He’s on to pinch hit for Leatherwood and draws a walk. Rebels have bases loaded, one out, and lead 16-2.
Reagan Burford: Burford grounds into a double play. Van Cleve out at third . That’s it for the seventh.
END OF 7TH INNING: ORU 2, OLE MISS 16
INNING 6
Ole Miss scores seven in the bottom of the 5th to take a 14-2 lead over Oral Roberts.
*New pitcher for the Rebels will be Mason Nichols for John Gaddis. Due up for ORU: 8-9-1.
Gaddis’ final line: 5.0 IP | 7 H | 2R | 2 ER | 3 BB | 7 K | 96 total pitchesÂ
Top of 6th
Jones: He pops up to Dunhurst to start the sixth. #HottyToddy
Beichler: He pops up to Nichols. TWO OUTS!
McCroskey: He flies out to right field. THREE UP, THREE DOWN!
Bottom of 6th
Ole Miss leads 14-2. Due up for the Rebels will be 7-8-9: Van Cleve-Leatherwood-Burford
Ben Van Cleve (DH for Alderman): Van Cleve to DH for Alderman. Van Cleve is hitting .417 on the season. He flies out to right to start the sixth.
Hayden Leatherwood: Left fielder Leatherwood up to bat. He’s hitting .320 thus far in 2022. He draws a four-pitch walk. Ole Miss has runner at first, one out.
Reagan Burford: The Ole Miss third baseman is up next…he’s on fire this season, hitting .500 thus far. Rebels have runner on first, one out. He draws a walk to give Ole Miss runners on first and second as the top of the order comes up.
*New pitcher for Oral Roberts. Jacob Widener to the mound for Andrew Davis
Peyton Chatagnier: Rebels’ second baseman up with runners on first and second, one out. Ole Miss leads 14-2. Peyton is hitting .293 this season. He flies out to center. Two outs. Rebs with runners on first and second, two outs.
Banks Tolley: Banks will pinch hit for Justin Bench. He flies out to left and that is it for the Rebel portion of the sixth.
END OF 6TH INNING: ORU 2, OLE MISS 14
INNING 5
Ole Miss scores four in the fourth to take a 7-2 lead over Oral Roberts. Due up for the Golden Knights will be 4-5-6. Breeze-Denny-Loftin. John Gaddis back to the mound for Ole Miss. He’s thrown 81 pitches as we start the fifth.Â
Top of 5th
Breeze: Gaddis gets him to go down swinging! One out!
Denny: He flies out to left for the second out of the fifth.
Loftin: Loftin indicates he is HBP…umpires will go to official review. It’s ruled he isn’t hit by pitch, but then he draws the walk anyway. Runner on first, with two outs.
Quinn: ORU seven-hole hitter Quinn up to bat. He’s hitting .432 on the season. GADDIS GETS HIM LOOKING! To the bottom of the fifth we go!
Bottom of 5th
Ole Miss leads 7-2. Due up for the Rebels will be: 6-7-8. Dunhurst-Alderman-Leatherwood.
*New pitcher for ORU will be Weber for Isaac Coffey.Â
Hayden Dunhurst: The Rebel catcher steps up to bat. He’s hitting .188 on the season. Today, he was named to the Buster Posey Award Watch List, honoring the nation’s best catcher. He draws a walk and the Rebels have the leadoff runner on base!
Kemp Alderman: The Rebels’ sophomore DH is up to bat with runner on first, no outs. He’s hitting .318 on the season. Dunhurst advances to second on a wild pitch! Alderman draws the walk. Rebels with runners on first and second, no outs.Â
Leatherwood: The Ole Miss left fielder, who is hitting .320 on the season, comes up to bat with runners on first and second with no outs. Ole Miss leads 7-2. *Alderman gets to second on a wild pitch and Dunhurst goes to third. Leatherwood with a 2-RBI single through the left side! Ole Miss now up 9-2.Â
*New pitcher for Oral Roberts: Andrew Davis to the mound for Weber
Reagan Burford: The third baseman is up with runner on first, no outs and a 9-2 lead. Burford is hitting .474 this season. He DOUBLES TO LEFT CENTER and scores Leatherwood. Ole Miss leads 10-2!
Peyton Chatagnier: Ole Miss second baseman Chatagnier is up to bat with runner on second, no outs. He draws a four-pitch walk and Rebels have runners on first and second and no outs.
Justin Bench: Rebels’ center fielder Bench is up next. He is batting .364 and steps up with runners on first and second, no outs. Ole Miss leads 10-2. Bench is HBP (his fourth HBP of the season) and Rebels will have bases loaded, no outs, and Gonzalez up to bat.Â
Jacob Gonzalez: The Ole Miss shortstop flies out to second. That’s the first out of the frame for the Rebels.
Tim Elko: GRAND SLAM BEER SHOWERS!!!! Tim Elko with the grand slam that scores Bench, Chatagnier and Burford!! REBELS LEAD 14-2!
TJ McCants: He flies out for the second out of the inning.
Dunhurst: OM Catcher grounds out but not before Ole Miss scores SEVEN in the frame.
END OF 5TH: ORU 2, OLE MISS 14
INNING 4
We start the fourth with Ole Miss leading Oral Roberts, 3-1. John Gaddis back to the mound for Ole Miss. He’s thrown 54 total pitches as the inning starts. Due up for ORU: 6-7-8.Â
Top of 4th
Loftin: He gets a leadoff single to left.
Quinn: Single to right for Quinn. ORU has the first two batters on base here in the fourth.
Jones: The Oral Roberts catcher is up to bat with runners on first and second and no outs. He draws a walk and ORU has bases loaded with no outs.
Beichler: The Golden Knights’ center fielder comes up to bat with bases loaded and no outs. Gaddis gets him to go down swinging! ONE OUT.
McCroskey: To the top of the order we go to McCroskey. The ORU second baseman comes up to bat with bases loaded and one out. He draws a walk that scores a run. Ole Miss now leads 3-2.
McMurray: The ORU two-hole hitter comes up with bases loaded, one out. He flies out to Bench in center. Runner holds at third. TWO OUTS.
Demeter: The Golden Knights’ DH steps up with two outs, bases loaded. GADDIS GETS HIM SWINGING TO END THE FRAME! ORU strands bases loaded.
Bottom of 4th
Ole Miss leads Oral Roberts, 3-2. Due up for the Rebels: 7-8-9. That’s Alderman-Leatherwood-Burford. Coffey back to the mound for ORU.Â
Alderman: Kemp strikes out swinging as we start the bottom of the 4th.
Leatherwood: Hayden Leatherwood draws a walk. Rebels have runner on first, one out.
Burford: The Ole Miss third baseman Burford doubles to right field! Leatherwood gets to third. Rebels with runners on the corners, one out. Top of the order coming up. Ole Miss leads 3-2.
Chatagnier: Chatagnier with a 2-RBI double to left field! Burford and Leatherwood score and Ole Miss leads 5-2!
Justin Bench: Rebels’ center fielder Justin Bench comes up to bat with runner on second, one out. Bench singles to left and Chatagnier scores! Ole Miss leads 6-2!
Jacob Gonzalez: The Ole Miss shortstop is up next. He draws a four-pitch walk. Bench to second. Rebels with runners on first and second, one out.
Tim Elko: The Rebels’ Captain up to bat. Bench out at third, caught stealing. Gonzalez advances to second. Then, Elko singles to left and scores Gonzalez! Rebels lead 7-2.
TJ McCants: Ole Miss RF up next. He’s got runner on first, two outs. He strikes out to end the fourth. Rebels score four in the frame and lead 7-2!
END OF 4TH: ORU 2, OLE MISS 7
INNING 3
After two complete, Ole Miss leads ORU, 3-1. John Gaddis back to the mound for the Rebels. Top of the order coming up for the Golden Eagles.Â
Top of 3rd
McCroskey: He grounds out to start the third. Nice play from Burford at third. ONE OUT.
McMurray: First baseman McMurray goes down swinging. TWO OUTS, nobody on.
Demeter: The ORU DH is up next. He gets a two-out single to right.
Breeze: Golden Knights’ third baseman steps up to bat with runner on first, two outs. He singles to center. ORU now has runners on first, second and two outs.
Denny: Oral Roberts’ right fielder Denny comes to bat with runners on first and second and two outs. ORU trails Ole Miss, 1-3. Denny grounds out to Elko at first to end the top of the third. Oral Roberts strands 2.
Bottom of 3rd
Ole Miss leads ORU 3-1 as we start the bottom of the third. Due up for Ole Miss: 3-4-5. Gonzalez-Elko-McCants.Â
Gonzalez: The Ole Miss shortstop with a fly out to center. ONE OUT.
Elko: The Captain draws a four-pitch walk. Ole Miss with runner on first, one out.
McCants: Right fielder McCants flies out to left. TWO OUTS.
Hayden Dunhurst: He flies out to center to end the inning.
END OF 3RD INNING: ORU 1, OLE MISS 3
INNING 2
Top of 2nd
Ole Miss leads 3-0. Gaddis back to the mound for Ole Miss. Due up for ORU: 4-5-6; Breeze-Denny-Loftin
Breeze: Leadoff ORU batter flies out to right. ONE OUT. Gaddis has thrown 8 pitches and got four batters out. Hotty Toddy!
Denny: The right fielder in the five-hole spot singles down the left field line. One on, one out for ORU.
Loftin: He singles to center. Denny to second. Runners on first and second with one out. Rebels lead 3-0.
Quinn: The ORU seven-hole hitter is up next. He singles through the right side that scores Denny. RBI single for Quinn. 3-1, Ole Miss leads.
Jones: The ORU catcher is up to bat. He’s got runners on the corners with one out. Gaddis gets him swinging! TWO OUTS!
Beichler: The ORU center fielder, the nine-hole hitter, steps up with runners on the corners, two outs. He strikes out swinging to end the frame!
Bottom of 2nd
ORU gets one in the top of the 2nd to make it 3-1, Rebels. Due up for Ole Miss: 9-1-2. Burford-Chatagnier-Bench. Isaac Coffey back to the mound for Oral Roberts.Â
Reagan Burford: Rebels’ leadoff man in the second strikes out.
Peyton Chatagnier: Ole Miss second baseman lines out to left. Nobody on base yet for the Rebels. Two outs.
Justin Bench: Rebels’ center fielder strikes out swinging. Rebels go down in order in the second but lead 3-1.
END OF 2ND INNING: ORU 1, OLE MISS 3
INNING 1
Top of 1st
John Gaddis takes the mound to start the game for Ole Miss. The lefty is 1-0 on the season and sports a .64 ERA. He’s notched 12 Ks on the season to 2 BB.Â
Mac McCroskey: He grounds out on the bunt. One out!
Jake McMurray: McMurray flies out to right. Two outs!
Dustin Demeter: The DH flies out to Gonzalez at short to end the frame!
Bottom of 1st
Due up for Ole Miss: 1-2-3. Chatagnier-Bench-Gonzalez
Peyton Chatagnier: The Ole Miss second baseman is HBP.
Justin Bench: Justin singles to right! Chatagnier to second. Rebels have two men on, no outs. 0-0.
Jacob Gonzalez: The OM shortstop singles to right. Rebels have bases loaded, no outs!
Tim Elko: The Captain steps up to bat with bases loaded, no outs. He hits a two-RBI single to left field! Bench and Chatagnier score! Ole Miss leads 2-0.
TJ McCants: TJ comes up to bat with runners on first and second and no outs. He singles to right! Rebels have bases loaded, no outs.
Hayden Dunhurst: The Ole Miss catcher strikes out but the Rebs still have bases loaded. One out.
Kemp Alderman: Alderman with the RBI ground out that scores Gonzalez. Ole Miss has runners on second and third, two outs. Rebels lead 3-0.
Hayden Leatherwood: He flies out to left to end the inning. But the Rebels get three in the frame and lead 3-0.
END OF 1ST INNING: ORU 0, OLE MISS 3
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Feature image graphic: Lee Ann Herring, Rebel Walk)
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.
