No. 4 Ole Miss pounds Arkansas State, 11-3, to move to 4-0
Oxford, MS – Coming off a series sweep to start the year, the Rebs were back at Swayze Tuesday afternoon where they took on Arkansas State. The No. 4-ranked Ole Miss squad stayed hot, winning 11-3, as they head into a huge top-15 matchup this weekend against Maryland.
The Bats
Ethan Groff got things going immediately from the leadoff spot, doubling in the gap and advancing to third on a groundout. A hard hit ground ball from Kemp Alderman, who played at catcher vs. the Red Wolves, went down as a reached on error but plated Groff, tying the game up.
Ethan Lege legged out an infield single that put runners on the corners. Lege was tagged out in a pickle between 1st and 2nd base, but not before allowing Alderman to take home giving the Rebs a 2-1 lead after one inning.
The Rebs picked up where they left off in the first, adding two more runs per a TJ McCants walk and the second home run of the season from freshman stud Will Furniss.
LONG GONE. 💣 @WillFurniss pic.twitter.com/X9LLWPB0y7
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 21, 2023
Two-sport athlete Tywone Malone then launched a solo-shot over the centerfield wall, making it 5-1 Rebels in a flash.
We all knew this was coming 😎 @TywoneMalone | @OleMissFB pic.twitter.com/uZnmZj0AfJ
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 21, 2023
Back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning from Peyton Chatagnier and then Groff added the sixth Rebel run.
Jacob Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, which led to the third double of the inning off the bat of Alderman and cleared the bases. That made it 8-1 Rebels after the end of the fourth.
Groff was then hit by a pitch, eventually leading to him stealing 2nd base. Gonzo drove him in with his first hit of the contest, a double in the gap.
Alderman launched his second homer of the season to left field, a 2-run shot that made it 11-3 heading to the sixth.
KEMP ALDERMAN LASER pic.twitter.com/rY6QPVRVPS
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 22, 2023
After putting up crooked numbers in four of the first five innings, the Rebs didn’t score the remainder of the game, but they had all they needed.
Groff gave the Rebels a lot of production from the lead-off spot, and Coach Bianco raved about his standout transfer in the post game:
“Another really good night tonight…two doubles and stolen bases. I think when you imagine what a transfer would do and look like, all the confidence and the experience that he’ll bring to the team.”
Coach Bianco on Ethan Groff
On the Bump
Freshman right-hander JT Quinn got the first midweek start of the year for the Rebs.
A double off the left field wall gave the Red Wolves an early baserunner, that eventually led to the first run of the game. After a groundout and a walk, a wild pitch from Quinn advanced the runner home and made it 1-0 Arkansas State going into bottom of the first inning.
The 6’6″ Rebel pitcher came out in the top of the second pounding the strike zone, only tossing FOUR pitches in the inning. The young starter stayed hot with another quick inning, getting the Red Wolves out in order once again in the top of the third.
Mid 3 | @quinnjt1 finding his groove, sits the Red Wolves down 1-2-3 in the third.
Ole Miss 5, ASU 1 pic.twitter.com/BeLhtXHFZ7
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 21, 2023
After walking two of three Red Wolves hitters to start the 5th, Quinn was replaced by senior reliever Mitch Murrell. Quinn ended his first career start with a final line of 4.1 innings pitched, 5 Ks, 4 walks and 3 runs allowed.
Two singles off Murrell plated the two runners left on by Quinn. The senior controlled the situation, however, leaving the two runners stranded and keeping it at 8-3 through five and a half.
Two-thirds of an inning was all Murrell was asked to pitch before Coach Bianco inserted redshirt freshman Brayden Jones.
The young right-hander saw his first action as a Rebel Tuesday evening, allowing a hit in 1 inning pitched.
And now making his Rebel debut, it's @bt16jones pic.twitter.com/pcApUjofaI
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 22, 2023
Another freshman made his Ole Miss debut following Jones. Mississippi native Cole Ketchum came on in the top of the seventh, sending the Red Wolves back to the dugout quickly with a 1-2-3 inning.
And now @ColeKetchum1 takes the mound to make his collegiate debut pic.twitter.com/5kz1r4cMlW
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 22, 2023
JUCO transfer Cole Tolbert was the third Ole Miss pitcher to make his debut for the Rebs on Tuesday. He punched out one, walked two, and hit a batter before being replaced by freshman Sam Tookoian. The big righty came in blazing, striking out the only two hitters he saw to strand the bases loaded in the 8th. The Rebel lead remained 11-3.
.@STookoian makes quick work of the Red Wolves' batters and gets us out of the bases loaded jam 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zJQgiJGIps
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 22, 2023
College World Series standout Mason Nichols was the seventh and final pitcher to step on the mound for the Rebels on Tuesday evening. The sophomore saw his first action of the season, ending the midweek contest as the Rebs won 11-3.
Coach Bianco spoke about his bullpen after the game, touching on the new guys as well:
“Proud of the way the bullpen…guys who haven’t pitched yet— Brayden Jones, Cole Ketchum, both came in and had 1-2-3 innings. We get in a little bit of a jam there in the eighth and bring in freshman Tookoian and man, he looked lights out. It was great to finally get Mason (Nichols) in the game, get his feet wet for the 2023 season.”
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco on the bullpen
Hunter Elliott status
It’s good news the Rebels were able to have so many pitchers take the mound Tuesday, because there was some not-so-good news that came out after the game. Following the win, Coach Bianco addressed the swirling rumors that Ole Miss ace Hunter Elliott has suffered an injury of some sort.
Bianco informed the media that Elliott will not throw this coming weekend.
“After Friday’s start, Hunter felt some tightness in his forearm which is concerning. Not normal for him. He felt it again on Sunday. He threw though, felt okay. No soreness throwing. [He] threw again Monday. But precautionary, we had an MRI taken Monday afternoon and still don’t really have the results yet. [We] sent the MRI off to several orthopedics and are gettin information over the next couple of days, kind of find out what the plan of attack is. Having the MRI, we think it’s in the best interest he doesn’t throw this weekend until later. We are just not really sure what his status is.“
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco
Coach Bianco said the Rebels will go with Jack Dougherty Friday, Grayson Saunier Saturday, and Xavier Rivas on Sunday this weekend.
Up Next
The Rebels will continue the home stretch in Oxford on Friday at 4 pm in Game 1 against Maryland. The Terrapins are the No. 13 ranked team in the country, per D1baseball.
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
Kameron Wicker
Kam is a senior at Ole Miss, currently pursuing a degree in Journalism. Even though he's from Delhi, Louisiana, that didn't stop Kam from growing up a diehard Ole Miss fan. He's a sports guru who watches and follows all sports at all times. He lettered four years in football and baseball in high school and is an avid Saints, Pelicans, and Astros fan. In his free time, you can find him watching sports or at the rec participating in them.
