Ole Miss bats come alive in 12-6 win over Maryland that ties the series
OXFORD, Miss. – Game two of the top-15 matchup vs. Maryland at Swayze was a battle that saw Ole Miss pull away late for the 12-6 win that tied the series. A tough start on the mound was backed by the Rebel bats that woke up after a quiet outing in game one Friday.
On the Bump
True freshman Grayson Saunier made his second start for the red and blue Saturday afternoon. Saunier hit the lead-off man and walked the next. With one out, an unusual double play consisted of a Saunier punch out and Calvin Harris tagging out the runner attempting to steal home, ending the inning.
Mid 1 | @Calvin_Harris33 with a big tag at the plate to get the Rebs out of the top of the first.
Ole Miss 0, Maryland 0 pic.twitter.com/Zlr1zebrQ0
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
After loading the bases, the Terrapins tied the game on a SAC fly to deep left-center field. Saunier found himself in the second bases-loaded situation of the inning, but showed nerves of steel and stranded them all with a strikeout that ended the top of the second with the game tied, 1-1.
The Rebels held a 2-1 lead heading to the third, but it was short lived as a blast to right field tied the game at 2-2. A hit batter and a walk later, Grayson was gave way to another freshman, Sam Tookoian.
Saunier finished with 2.2 innings of work, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. Tookoian took over with two outs and got the punch out to strand the runners and leave the frame tied 2-2.
Comin' in Clutch | @STookoian pic.twitter.com/2YOB7JvV4f
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
Sam picked up right where he left off in the third, punching out the side 1-2-3 to record his fourth straight strike out.
He's a FRESHMAN 😤
4 batters up = 4 strikeouts for @STookoian pic.twitter.com/C0hdg2Zhzq
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
Tookoian then sat down his fifth straight batter to start the fifth inning. However, four walks in the inning plated another run for Maryland and knocked Sam out the game. The big right-hander finished with 2 innings of work, 5 Ks, 3 earned runs and 4 walks before being replaced by senior Matt Parenteau.
Parenteau walked in two more runs before getting out of the inning, but the Terrapins held a 5-4 lead going to the bottom of the fifth.
After both teams put up goose eggs in the sixth, JT Quinn came on for the Rebs to start the seventh.
Parenteau ended his day with 1.1 innings pitched and a pair of walks and Ks. The Terrapins had another run come across due to an error, extending their lead to 6-4 going to the Ole Miss half of the seventh.
An inning was all JT was asked for before being replaced by Mason Nichols at the top of the eighth. The ‘22 CWS standout found himself in based-loaded trouble before getting out of the inning thanks to a Kemp Alderman web gem on the warning track.
Fences do not phase @KempAlderman. pic.twitter.com/DRXFUrI5mh
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
Mason finished with his first save of the year with two innings of work, a strikeout and no runs allowed.
“Terrific,” Coach Bianco said of his closer Nichols.
“We didn’t give him much time…We rushed him in once we got bases loaded and made a decision. He got out there and threw it in the zone, got a couple outs on the board…he was in the stretch and kind of lost his rhythm a little bit, but then came back and got off the field and did it again in the ninth.”
Coach Bianco on Mason Nichols
The Bats
Ethan Groff drew a walk from the two-hole to give the Rebs their first baserunner of the game. Alderman then doubled down the line, allowing Groff to race home all the way from first making it 1-0 Rebels through one played.
🧨 Big-time players make big-time plays 🧨
. @KempAlderman rips it right down the third-base line to send @ethangroff12 home. pic.twitter.com/CyTGNwi49S
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
An Ethan Lege single and a Reagan Burford walk allowed Rebel star shortstop Jacob Gonzalez to drive in Lege with a single down the right field line. Ole Miss took the 2-1 lead heading to the third.
STINGER…brought to you by @jakegonzalez717. pic.twitter.com/GB1C1RbGEN
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
A single, a walk and a HBP loaded the bags for Groff. He lined one to left field, driving in two runs to give back the lead to Ole Miss, 4-2, after four played.
A single from @ethangroff12 drives home @WillFurniss and @burford_reagan. pic.twitter.com/oAgO7ico7s
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
Groff has been hot at the plate to start the year. The transfer drove in 4 runs on a 3-for-5 day at the plate.
“I think the coaching staff has done a really good job here making me feel comfortable. I love my teammates and they are really supportive…I’ve never felt closer to a group of guys.”
Ethan Groff
The bats came back to life in the bottom half of the seventh. Calvin Harris singled followed by a Calarco double and walk drawn by Lege, loading the bases.
Harris eventually came around to score after a bases-loaded walk was drawn by team captain Garrett Wood. Following a Maryland pitching change, Gonzo singled into left, knocking in two more and giving the Rebs the lead back going to the eighth, 7-6.
BOOM!
The Rebels take a 7-6 lead after a 2 RBI single from @jakegonzalez717. pic.twitter.com/kkKHqn0QzP
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
Harris then walked with one down in the eighth, leading to the second extra-base hit from Calarco on the day. This time the ball left the yard into the student section to extend the Ole Miss lead to three.
You just love to see it 😏 @antcalarco pic.twitter.com/MJpAkqHpDz
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
Wood then singled with runners on the corners to add another. Groff followed up with a shot to left to plate another pair of runs, giving the Rebels a 12-6 lead heading to the final inning of play.
FIRE. US. UP. @Gwood22Wood pic.twitter.com/9zfkWdRs6e
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 25, 2023
While Ole Miss had a rough night offensively in game one, the Rebels completely flipped the script in game two with double the hits and runs from the previous outing.
After the game, Coach Bianco talked about his team’s bounce-back win.
“On the offensive side, we looked totally different. We all walked outta here last night pretty disappointed with our effort offensively. And again, not taking anything away from (Maryland pitcher) Savacool. I thought he pitched terrific, but just I thought we made it too easy on him, and that’s really not us. And today, even though I thought Dean looked sharp early with the change-up, we didn’t chase the change-up out of the strike zone. We ran the count up and even when we didn’t get hits, we pressed them a little bit.”
Coach Bianco on the Rebels’ hitting in game two
Up Next
The Diamond Rebs will be back in action Sunday for the final game of the series. The rubber match against Maryland is scheduled for 1:30 pm with Xavier Rivas starting for the Rebels.
(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.
