Kemp Alderman walks it off as Ole Miss defeats Purdue, 7-6, in extras to clinch the series
OXFORD, Miss. – After piling on the runs in their 15-7, game-one victory Friday over Purdue, the Rebs were back in action Saturday at noon. Ole Miss won game two of the weekend series, 7-6, in a ten-inning battle that ended with walk-off showers.
With the victory, the Rebels take their fourth straight series of the season before they head into SEC play next weekend.
On the Bump
Grayson Saunier got the game-two start for the Rebs. After loading the bases with three walks, the true freshman was able to strand them all to get out of the frame and get the Rebels to the plate.
Saunier started the second inning with a walk and a hit batter. The Boilermakers took advantage with a single through the six hole to plate their first run.
Purdue then took a 4-2 lead following a three-run shot into the right field bullpen.
But Grayson found his groove in the third and fourth innings, sitting down the Boilermakers 1-2-3 in both frames. The fourth inning was Saunier’s last inning of work. His ending line was 4 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, 4 BBs, and 1 K.
Jordan Vera came on in relief to start the fifth, stranding two more Purdue base runners to give the bats back to the Rebs.
Mid 5 | @JordanVera02 strands two Boilermakers to preserve the Rebel lead!
Ole Miss 5, Purdue 4 pic.twitter.com/AlSre5G8rR
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 11, 2023
Vera went 1.1 innings before Coach Bianco made the call to the pen. Vera added a strikeout and walk to his finishing line before giving way to Sam Tookoian.
Tookoian came on with a runner in scoring position, later retiring the side via a punch-out to keep the Rebel lead at 5-4 through five and a half.
Tooooooooooooook! @STookoian gets the K to strand the tying run in scoring position! pic.twitter.com/1Q87nNZHq5
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 11, 2023
Sam went 1.2 innings before being replaced, getting the job done out of the pen for the Rebs as he recorded 2 strikeouts and did not allow a run, hit, or walk.
Coach B praised Tookoian after the game.
“Proud of him he’s been in some situations that you hope a freshman’s not gonna be in. But he seems to get off the field and make pitches, and he did that again today. It was huge.”
Coach Bianco on Sam Tookoian
Sophomore Mason Nichols was called upon in relief to begin the eighth inning. After punching out the first batter he saw, Nichols allowed a solo shot to left-center that shortened the Rebs’ lead to 6-5.
Mason would then hit a Purdue batter, who later knotted the game at six due to an error by Ole Miss third baseman Ethan Lege.
Nichols’ longest outing of the year resulted in his first win. The Rebel closer ended with 3 innings of work, 5 strikeouts, one earned run and no walks.
Mid 10 | @masonichols11 ups his strikeout total to five and strands the go-ahead run at third.
Ole Miss 6, Purdue 6 pic.twitter.com/fyIM4XtrhA
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 11, 2023
At the Plate
Jacob Gonzalez got things going for Ole Miss, singling right away from the lead-off spot. Ethan Groff drew a walk, eventually leading to Kemp Alderman driving in both runners with a long single to left.
The Rebels took a 2-0 lead into the second.
Kemp Alderman rakes. Don't forget to file your taxes. pic.twitter.com/5m1OLOib5a
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 11, 2023
Purdue plated four in the frame, however, to take a 4-2 lead over the Rebs after two complete.
Similar to the first inning, Alderman drove in two more for the Rebels in the bottom of the third. This time, Calvin Harris singled to set up a Kemp moonshot that left the stadium and tied things back up at 4 after three played.
If you parked your car beyond left field, it is not safe.
🤯 @KempAlderman pic.twitter.com/7uzauUm72u
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 11, 2023
Kemp spoke postgame about his first long ball of the game.
“A left-handed breaking ball is my favorite pitch to hit…he tried to flip the breaking ball in, I just saw it out of his hand and hit it well.”
Kemp Alderman on the first homer he hit in game two
Peyton Chatagnier led off the bottom of the fourth, driving another ball into the stands to give the Rebs a 5-4 lead heading to the fifth.
Left fielder knew
🚀 @peytonchat5 pic.twitter.com/wfnOCuRqiW
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 11, 2023
Ole Miss got back on the board in the seventh with another home run, this time from TJ McCants. The third Rebel homer of the day extended the Ole Miss lead to 6-4 through seven played.
Two days, three homers for @mccants_tj! pic.twitter.com/1t0iRZQLEu
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 11, 2023
With the game tied at six to start the bottom of the ninth, the Rebels loaded the bases, only to leave them stranded and force extra innings leading at Swayze.
“You’re not gonna play great all the time,” Coach Bianco said afterward of the close game.
“You’re not gonna score double-digit runs all the time. And you’re right, we’ve had some wins that have been comfortable or games that were close that the offense made comfortable at the end. This is one that we had to make pitches to win the game. We had to make some plays to win the game, and we had to get some bats to win the game. So I think it’s good, it’s healthy.”
Coach Bianco on the Rebs battling to win
Kemp Alderman led off the bottom of the tenth inning for Ole Miss — and he promptly walked it off for the 7-6 win via a liner to right that got out in a hurry.
KEMP ALDERMAN OPPO TACO WALK-OFF pic.twitter.com/ujFw9g5NnF
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 11, 2023
Up Next
The Diamond Rebels are back at Swayze Sunday for their final game against the Boilermakers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 pm, with southpaw Xavier Rivas starting for Ole Miss.
(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.
