Ole Miss comes from behind to defeat Arizona, 7-4, in opening game of Coral Gables Regional
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Time and time again this season, Ole Miss players have talked about the importance of sticking together and continuing to play hard when they’re down.
After his team came from behind to defeat No. 2 seed Arizona, 7-4, in the first round of the Coral Gables Regional Saturday, Rebels’ head coach Mike Bianco echoed what his players have been saying.
“I think the biggest thing is what we’ve said for the last few weeks…the guys continue to play hard, continue to stay together and tonight you could see that. Our guys just really didn’t blink. They just kept playing.”
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco
Coach Bianco: "Proud of our guys. Thought it was a heck of a ballgame. Proud of the way we hung in there offensively and the way we hung in there on the mound.."
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) June 5, 2022
While Ole Miss (33-22, 14-16 SEC) used that never-say-die mentality to fight back from a 7-14 conference record and win 8 of its last 11, the Rebs had to battle back in Saturday night’s game also, after falling behind 2-0 and 4-2 against Arizona.
Second baseman Peyton Chatagnier was a difference-maker in the game Saturday. The junior went 3-for-4, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning that tied the game at 4-4.
He addressed his team’s fighting spirit in the postgame press conference.
“…That kind of sums up our season, that game right there..We faced so much adversity throughout this season. Just from not playing our best, to anything else–injuries and everything like that. I’m just super proud of the guys.“
Peyton Chatagnier on the Rebels’ resiliency
When you hit a ball so far you forget to touch home. 😳@peytonchat5 | #HottyToddy
📺 https://t.co/ckl6Uf6oDZ pic.twitter.com/AvEgrri8bj— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 5, 2022
That was his 10th homer of the season.
Chatagnier also notched a three-run double down the right field line in the eighth that gave the Rebels their ultimate lead of 7-4.
REBS LEAD!
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/eXzZIrjGNi
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 5, 2022
Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez helped the Rebs battle back from the 2-0 early deficit when he hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to tie the score.
Saturdays are for Gonz Bombz 💣
📺 https://t.co/ckl6Uf6oDZ pic.twitter.com/3G5ZdThoyC
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 5, 2022
On the mound: Rebel pitchers amass 20 strikeouts
Dylan DeLucia was phenomenal on the mound against the Wildcats, throwing a career-high 12 strikeouts and allowing four runs on five hits in six innings.
Dylan DeLucia is dealing for @OleMissBSB tonight, he’s got a career high 11 k’s through 5 innings of work pic.twitter.com/iyj3ppLHsG
— D1Baseball (@d1baseball) June 5, 2022
Arizona’s two runs came via a pair of solo home runs in the second inning. They scored two more runs in the sixth inning on a two-out double that fell just short of the Ole Miss outfielder.
Sophomore Josh Mallitz, who has not given up a run in the last 12 2/3 innings, took the mound in relief of DeLucia to start the seventh inning, and he, too, was dominating.
BIG. MAL.
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/x0JQZZTi7H
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 5, 2022
Mallitz only gave up one hit and threw two shut-out innings while notching five strikeouts.
Closer Brandon Johnson took the mound in the ninth and stranded two runners in scoring position, en route to earning his 10th save of the season.
REBS WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/ttYXoxt12L
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 5, 2022
DeLucia, Mallitz and Johnson combined for a season-high 20 strikeouts, the most in program history in postseason play and just one shy of the Rebels’ single-game record.
Next Up:
Ole Miss plays No. 1 seed Miami in the second game of the regional at 2 p.m. CT. The winner of that game advances to the regional final, one victory away from a super regional berth, while the loser will play in an elimination game 55 minutes after the game ends.
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
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.
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