True freshman Grayson Saunier pitches like a veteran in first collegiate appearance, earns 10-0 win over Delaware
OXFORD, Miss. – A few years ago, Doug Nikhazy was the ace of the Ole Miss pitching staff and when he moved on to the professional ranks, more than a few Rebels’ fans probably panicked.
But a freshman from Tupelo showed up in Oxford and Hunter Elliott picked up the slack from the departed star.
After the national championship run, Dylan DeLucia left Ole Miss after a year and again some worried the Ole Miss pitching staff would not have enough depth.
Rebel fans, meet freshman Grayson Saunier.
Second verse, same as the first.
The kid from Memphis surrendered just one hit and struck out five in his first college game, earning the 10-0 win over Delaware in game two of the series Saturday at Swayze.
“I really kind of settled in when I was warming up,” Saunier said after the game. “All the nerves kind of went away. I felt good.”
That's how you start your college career! @GraysonSaunier fans the first batter he faces. pic.twitter.com/xxAwJzSjRC
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 18, 2023
Saunier, along with fellow freshman Sam Tookoian, followed by upperclassmen Jack Dougherty and Jackson Kimbrell, provided Ole Miss with the pitching prowess to give the Rebels the series victory.
Saunier talked about how it felt to take the mound in his first collegiate game.
“It was awesome. Definitely good to be out here for the first time in front of the crowd that we had was really special, I’m going to remember that for a long time.“
Grayson Saunier on playing in his first game
Saunier may have been a shock to the Blue Hens, but he was not to Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco.
“Grayson Saunier probably had as good a fall as any freshman that I can remember that stepped on the field, but not just statistically in the fall, but just stuff-wise,” Bianco said prior to the season.
“Sometimes in the fall in the intrasquad you kind of gotta weigh that in sometimes, you know, the stats don’t necessarily match up with the ability or just the raw talent that you see. It certainly did with him. We have a terrific fall and a guy that we think has put himself in position to be a possible weekend starter as a true freshman.”
Coach Bianco on Grayson Saunier
Saunier exhibited the presence of a veteran when working his way out of a couple of jams and after the game talked about the experience.
“Definitely a confidence booster. I hate walking guys, everyone does. But being able to get out of those and put some zeroes up for the team, that was huge.“
Grayson Saunier
T 5 | New pitcher for the Rebs to start the fifth. Sam Tookoian to pitch for Grayson Saunier.
The freshman's final line today:
4.0 IP | 1 H | 0 R | 4 BB | 5 K | 67 Total PitchesRebs lead Delaware, 4-0.
Hotty Toddy!
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) February 18, 2023
During the final week of intrasquads, Saunier felt some soreness in his right triceps muscle and Coach Bianco held him out. By his bullpen session this week he showed no signs of any issues; however, he was on somewhat of a pitch count in Saturday’s game which prompted his shortened time on the mound.
Nevertheless, he looked strong in his first outing and commented after the game on how he was feeling.
“It felt great this past week. It kind of went away right before (the bullpen session), so it’s been feeling good all week.”
Grayson Saunier
In his senior season in high school, Saunier fanned 63 batters, so it should not be a surprise to Ole Miss fans he could be the next dominant pitcher in the Rebels’ rotation.
Steve Barnes
Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.
He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.
A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.
Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.
He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.
Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.
