GAMER: Rebels record season-high 16 hits en route to 9-7 Win Over Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – It was back-and-forth all night, but Ole Miss got the job done, coming through with timely hitting to defeat Minnesota 9-7 in their second Cambria Classic contest. The victory moved Ole Miss one win away from sweeping their matchups at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Off and Running

It didn’t take Ole Miss long to pick up where the Rebs left off against Maryland. Jacob Gonzalez led things off with a double down the line, but was thrown out trying to steal third base. However, the Gophers wouldn’t get off that easy.

Ethan Groff then worked a walk and stole second base. Calvin Harris also worked a walk to give the Rebels two base runners with only one out. Kemp Alderman then hit a soft grounder back to the pitcher, but would beat the throw to first and the Rebs had ducks on the pond for Anthony Calarco, who came through with a two-RBI knock to center field.

On the board!@antcalarco drives home two to give the Rebs the early lead. pic.twitter.com/Oqf44js9G1

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 5, 2023

TJ McCants would bring Alderman home with a SAC fly, and the Rebels would take a 3-0 lead through the top half of the first inning.

Grayson Saunier would issue a leadoff walk to start the Minnesota first, but that would be all the Gophers would get, as he would retire the next three via strikeout-strikeout-flyout to end the frame.

Smooth Saunier

Talented freshman hurler Saunier found himself in some trouble in the home half of the second, surrendering a leadoff home run to Riley Swenson followed by a single from Boston Merila. But Saunier would show why he’s so highly touted, striking out the next three (including a clock-violation strikeout) to end the danger and hold the lead at two runs.

Mark your 2023 Baseball Bingo board! It's a Pitch Clock K!

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— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 5, 2023

Ole Miss would put two on with two out in the top of the third and Peyton Chatagnier would single into left field, but Alderman would be thrown out at the plate to end the threat, keeping the Rebels lead at just 3-1.

Gophers Fight Back

In the home half of the third, Minnesota got things going in a hurry. A leadoff single was followed by a bunt that moved the runner to second. The Gophers then put together back-to-back RBI doubles to tie the game at 3-3. Minnesota would keep the pressure on, getting two runners aboard with two out, but Saunier would strike out Sam Hunt to end the threat.

Rebs Back On Top

After a stagnant few innings offensively, Ole Miss would finally break through again in the top of the fifth. A Harris single would be followed by a fielder’s choice from Alderman, leaving Alderman safe at first and Harris out at second. Calarco would then double to center field, resulting in a close play at the plate, but not many folks are going to win a collision with Alderman.

Train's coming through! 🚂@antcalarco puts it in motion, @KempAlderman does the rest.

Ole Miss 4, Minnesota 3
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— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 5, 2023

The play would give the Rebs a 4-3 lead. But, the lead wouldn’t last long.

Gophers Respond Again

In the home half of inning number five, Saunier would get the first out quickly on a line out. But, an Ike Mezzenga single would promptly be followed by a two-run bomb to center by Jake Perry, and Minnesota would have its first lead of the night at 5-4.

The Rebels would have a huge opportunity to answer in the top of inning number six, but Chatagnier would be thrown out at home and the Rebels would leave two stranded.

Career Night For Saunier

Despite a few struggles, Grayson Saunier put together a night on the mound that resulted in career highs for both innings pitched (5) and strikeouts (11). Saunier’s final line: Five innings, eight hits, five runs, two walks, 11 strikeouts, 94 pitches.

True freshman Saunier would leave the game with his team still in it. He would be replaced by Mitch Murrell, who would sit the Gophers down in order in the bottom of the sixth, and that would set the stage for the Rebels to work some magic in the seventh.

Can’t Keep ‘Em Down

Groff led things off with a single for the Rebels in the seventh, which would be followed by a double from Harris that would have been a LONG home run in any kind of normal baseball setup.

T7 | @Calvin_Harris33 crushes a double off the wall in right. Rebs threatening with no outs.

Minnesota 5, Ole Miss 4
Live on @BigTenPlus pic.twitter.com/3Amzox0SXy

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 5, 2023

After an Alderman strikeout, Calarco would come up clutch with a two-RBI single, putting the Rebels back on top 6-5.

The Anthony Calarco Game™️

Five RBI today for @antcalarco to put the Rebs back on top!

Ole Miss 6, Minnesota 5
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— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 5, 2023

The knock would give Calarco his fourth and fifth RBIs of the night, making him responsible for all but one run for the Rebels to that point.

The Gophers would get a runner to third base in the bottom of the inning, but Mitch Murrell would work around the jam to preserve the Rebels’ lead.

End 7 | @Mitch_Murrell strikes out one in the seventh and strands the tying run at third!

Ole Miss 6, Minnesota 5
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— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 5, 2023

Always Good To Have Insurance

The Rebels would take advantage of another scoreless frame from Murrell in the eighth, as Gonzalez would walk to lead off the inning, followed by a Groff single.

After a wild pitch allowed both runners to move up, Alderman would give the Rebels a little breathing room with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-5. That would do it for Ole Miss in the frame.

Mitch Murrell would start the bottom of the eighth, recording a groundout. He would then be replaced by freshman Sam Tookoian. He would induce two groundouts to send the game to the final inning.

End 8 | @_ethanlege records all three outs for the Rebs in a clean eighth.

Ole Miss 7, Minnesota 5 pic.twitter.com/o9fFCmcFzp

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 5, 2023

And the Rebels weren’t done adding to their insurance policy.

Will Furniss would rope a line drive into right field with one out in the ninth that the Gopher right fielder couldn’t handle. Furniss would reach second base on the play. Lege made sure he didn’t stay there long, smacking his first home run as a Rebel to give Ole Miss a 9-5 cushion.

First homer as a Reb ✅

💣 @_ethanlege
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— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 5, 2023

Rebels’ head coach Mike Bianco talked about the contributions from newcomers Calarco and Lege in the contest.

Coach Bianco

Shutting The Door Is Never Easy

With the Rebels leading by four in the bottom of the ninth, the Golden Gophers were determined not to go down without a fight. A leadoff walk would be followed by a two-run homer to cut the lead to 9-7.

A quick mound visit from Mike Bianco is all it took to calm Tookoian down, however, and he would slam the door, securing the victory.

The win moved Ole Miss to 9-2 overall and 2-0 in the Cambria Classic. The Rebels put up a season-high 16 hits in the victory. Coach Bianco talked about the back-and-forth game and how proud he was of the performance from his squad.

Coach Bianco

Up Next

The Rebels have just one game remaining in Minneapolis, and it comes Sunday at 1:30 p.m. against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are the only other undefeated team at the Cambria Classic, having recorded wins over Vanderbilt and Hawaii thus far. The Rebels will send Xavier Rivas to the mound for his third career start at Ole Miss.