Ole Miss pitchers notch 17 strikeouts in 10-2 win over ULM
OXFORD, Miss. — Behind a combined 17 strikeouts from Ole Miss pitchers, the No. 2-ranked Rebels beat Louisiana Monroe, 10-2, Tuesday night at Swayze to move to 7-0 on the season.
Hunter Elliott made his first career start in the Red and Blue — and did so in grand fashion, striking out nine batters over four innings.
No, we didn't clone Doug! That–that would be crazy…😅
Anyway here's a long-haired lefty wearing No. 26 and striking out nine guys. pic.twitter.com/28UsMHlyr5
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 2, 2022
With two out in the top of the first, the Warhawks’ first of just two runs in the game would come across on a single up the middle that scored a runner who had reached on a walk and later advanced to second on a stolen base.
Elliott would respond by ended the inning with another strikeout.
After the Rebs went scoreless in the first, Elliott came back in the top of the second and picked up right right where he left off, striking out the side.
The bottom half of the frame would see three straight Rebel batters walk. Ben Van Cleve then hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Tim Elko and tying the game, 1-1.
The fourth Rebel batter of the second inning was also walked and that loaded the bases for Regan Burford. He drew a walk that brought home TJ McCants, giving the Rebels a 2-1 advantage after two complete.
The top of inning three began with yet another strikeout from Elliott, followed by a fly out, a single and a ULM runner being thrown out at second as Calvin Harris hit Gonzalez for the out.
Jacob Gonzalez got the bottom of the third inning started with a walk and would later advance to second on a stolen base. With two outs, TJ McCants roped a single into center field that scored Gonzalez from second. That pushed the Ole Miss lead to 3-1.
Hunter Elliott continued his dominant outing, striking out two of three ULM batters he faced in the top of the fourth.
In the home half of the frame, Van Cleve got things started with a double into shallow left center field. Harris followed with a single into right field and advanced to second on the throw home from the right fielder, putting runners on second and third for Reagan Burford.
Burford then hit a fly ball to deep center field, allowing Harris to advance to third and Van Cleve to score making it 4-1, Rebs. Justin Bench then reached on an error through the infield that would allow Calvin Harris to score from third, increasing the Rebel lead to 5-1.
Elliott’s night would come to an end after allowing a lead-off single in the top of the fifth. The freshman finished with 9 strikeouts allowing three hits, two earned runs and one walk in four complete innings.
“I had my fastball, my breaking ball and my changeup working really well. Slider wasn’t on, we kind of banged it early but it’s really hard to have all four of your pitches (working).”
OM pitcher Hunter Elliot
Riley Maddox, another freshman pitcher for Ole Miss, would come in to relieve Elliott. ULM would get two runners in scoring position after a double down the left field line. With runners on second and third, Reagan Burford made a great defensive play on a ground ball to get the out at first, but a ULM runner scored and the other advanced to third.
That pick was 𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗬, Burf!@burford_reagan | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/LDqNMJg7kr
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 2, 2022
Jacob Gonzalez would follow with a great defensive play of his own on a slow ground ball to get the third out of the frame.
The kid is just smooth.@jakegonzalez717 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Dw99irKXUf
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 2, 2022
TJ McCants added to the Ole Miss lead in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out, solo home run that put the Rebels up 6-2. The home run was McCants’ third of the season.
Never a doubt.@mccants_tj gets the run right back to reclaim the 4-run lead headed to the 6th. pic.twitter.com/wSQxJJFpTq
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 2, 2022
Riley Maddox would give way to Matt Parenteau in the top of the seventh. Maddox gave up just one hit through two innings and notched one strikeout. Parenteau would only face two batters, both of whom reached by walk.
The next Rebel pitcher to enter was Jack Dougherty, who would strike out two of the three batters faced.
In the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and third, TJ McCants would add his third RBI of the night with an infield single that put the Rebels ahead, 7-2.
Dougherty ran back out for the top of the eighth and struck out the first two batters he faced in the frame. He then gave up a single but left the runner stranded after striking out another Warhawk.
In the top of the eighth, the first five Ole Miss batters were walked which brought home two runs. Captain Tim Elko grounded into a double play but brought home another run that gave the Rebels an eight-run lead 10-2.
Dougherty would return to the mound in the top of the ninth and close things out, striking out two and earning the save. He finished with seven strikeouts in three innings pitched.
Game Summary
The Rebels notched nine hits on the night, four of them extra-base hits. To go along with that, Ole Miss collected 13 walks while only striking out three times. TJ McCants was the Rebels’ leading hitter on the night with three hits, one of which was a home run, three RBI and a stolen base.
Next Up
Ole Miss and Louisiana-Monroe meet again at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Jack Washburn is the scheduled starter for the Rebels. The junior right-hander has two appearances and one start so far this season and a 2.25 ERA in four innings of work. Wednesday’s action can be streamed live on SEC Network +.
(Feature image credit: Ole Miss Athletics)
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.
