No. 1 Ole Miss Takes the Series at Auburn with 15-2 Win in Rubber Game
AUBURN, Ala. — No. 1 Ole Miss rebounded from a game-two loss to defeat Auburn, 15-2, on the Plains Saturday, giving the Rebels the series win over the Tigers in the rubber game.
Head coach Mike Bianco’s team now moves to 15-4 overall, 2-1 in SEC play.
The Rebels got things rolling in the top of the third. With two outs, Jacob Gonzalez reached first by way of a walk.
Peyton Chatagnier then hit a fly ball that was missed by the Auburn left fielder, allowing Gonzalez to score from first.
Chatagnier advanced to second on the error and came around to score on a T.J. McCants single.
Clinical piece of hitting from @mccants_tj to double the lead! pic.twitter.com/VbPm5OUcIj
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 19, 2022
McCants would make his way to second with a stolen base before Tim Elko brought him around to score, putting Ole Miss ahead 3-0.
Auburn would scratch across a run in the bottom of the third. With one out and runners on first and second, a Tigers’ single pushed across their first run of the game, cutting the Ole Miss lead to 3-1
Much like the third inning, a Gonzalez walk would set the tone for an Ole Miss four-run top of the fifth.
Chatagnier advanced Gonzalez to third with a single and then advanced to second after a stolen base.
Hudson Sapp, who came in to pinch-hit for TJ McCants, scored both Gonzalez and Chatagnier with a double into right center field.
Next up was the The Captain, Elko, who sent a two-run home run over the left field wall giving the Rebels a 7-1 lead.
Green Monster wasn't getting in the way of this one 👀@TimElko | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/52KtMuqSo8
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 19, 2022
Ole Miss continued to pour it on as the top of the sixth was another four-run inning for the Rebs. Hayden Leatherwood led off the inning with a solo home run to right center field.
Think @HLeatherwood9 found the barrel on this one… pic.twitter.com/2mlVfLvIu4
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 19, 2022
Kemp Alderman followed with a solo home run that squeaked just inside the right field foul pole.
They're claiming it was a review but we think the umps just wanted to watch this @KempAlderman big fly a couple more times. pic.twitter.com/KwJ0PkG5sk
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 19, 2022
Reagan Burford, Gonzalez and Chatagnier continued the hitting spree with a single, double and single respectively. Chatagnier’s single drove in Burford and Gonzalez to increase the Rebel lead to 11-1 as the top of the sixth came to an end.
After allowing a single with no outs in the top of the sixth, starting pitcher Jack Dougherty’s day on the mound would come to end.
Dougherty finished the day allowing seven hits and two runs (both earned). He walked three and struck out seven over five complete innings.
Hunter Elliot came in from the bullpen to finish up the sixth. Elliot was able to get out of the frame allowing Auburn to score only one run, which was the runner he inherited from Dougherty.
Ole Miss led 11-2 after six complete.
In the top of the seventh, Justin Bench led off the inning as he reached first via a hit-by-pitch.
With two outs, Kemp Alderman smacked a double, his second extra-base hit of the day, into the right field corner and scored Justin Bench from first base.
That increased the Rebels’ lead to 12-2 over the host Tigers.
“Yesterday we weren’t really ourselves,” Alderman said after the game.
“Today we just brought the energy and came out first and punched them in the mouth and scored 15 runs.”
Kemp Alderman on difference between Friday and Saturday’s games
In the top of the eighth, Elko notched his third hit of the game and his fourth RBI on a single that scored Banks Tolley, who reached base with a double earlier that inning.
Bench followed with a single and would come around to score on a single from Hayden Dunhurst that would stretch the Ole Miss lead to 14-2.
In the top of the ninth, Gonzalez notched his third hit and second double of the game as he pounded a double to left-center field.
Chatagnier added to the Rebel lead with an RBI single, his third hit of the day, expanding the Rebel lead to 15-2.
Brandon Johnson came in to pitch the ninth inning, ending Hunter Elliot’s outing. Elliott pitched three scoreless innings, striking out four, walking two and allowing two hits. Johnson pitched a one-two-three ninth inning, cementing the 15-2 Ole Miss win.
Hit Fest
Ole Miss’ hitting was on point as the Rebels put 19 hits on the board. They had nine extra base hits, six doubles and three home runs. The Rebs had five different players who notched at least two hits (Gonzalez 3, Chatagnier 3, McCants 2, Elko 3, and Alderman 2).
On the Mound
Jack Dougherty got his first win of the season, striking out seven over five innings.
Some nastiness for JFD's 7th K of the game 🤢 pic.twitter.com/5RywFpg1tf
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 19, 2022
“He looked really sharp. He totally filled up the strike zone. Proud of his effort.”
Coach Bianco on Jack Dougherty’s outing
Rebel pitchers allowed just nine hits, struck out 12 and stranded 12 Auburn baserunners.
DeadSoxy Game Ball
After giving up 19 runs on 15 hits — and giving 11 walks — in Friday’s 19-5 loss, it was important for Ole Miss to set the tone on the mound early in game three.
Ole Miss starter Jack Dougherty did just that, giving up just two runs in five complete innings against a hot-hitting Tigers’ team.
For his efforts, he earned the win and the DeadSoxy.com Game Ball. Congrats to Jack on a great performance!
Next Up:
The Rebels travel to Memphis to take on the Tigers (11-5) in Tuesday midweek action. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
Then, Ole Miss will host the Tigers Wednesday (March 23) with the game slated to start at 6:30 p.m.
Nick Filipich
Nick Filipich was born and raised in Biloxi, MS. He is an Ole Miss alum with a degree in Sports and Recreation Administration. A sports junkie with a great passion for all things Ole Miss, Nick played baseball and football in high school — which is where he discovered his love for sports. He is an avid Braves and Saints fan, and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, friends and his black lab, Dixie.
