Ole Miss sweeps series with Purdue in 6-1 win over the Boilermakers
OXFORD, Miss. – The Diamond Rebs clinched the series against the Boilermakers in extras Saturday in walk-off fashion. Today, game three was another tight one for a while, ultimately ending with a 6-1 Ole Miss win after the Rebels pulled away late from Purdue.
On the Mound
Southpaw Xavier Rivas stepped on the mound for Ole Miss to start “Energy Sunday,” as head coach Mike Bianco calls it. A one-out single and a throwing error by Calvin Harris eventually landed a runner on third before Rivas punched out the side with back-to-back strikeouts.
Mid 1 | @XavierRivas33 works around a one-out base hit for a scoreless first!
Ole Miss 0, Purdue 0 pic.twitter.com/BDhqvNjQzd
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 12, 2023
A two-out rally in the second saw Purdue plate a run via a double and an infield single that made it 1-0 Boilermakers through one-and-a-half played.
Purdue put its lead-off man on in the third, only to be picked off by Rivas as the Purdue runner attempted to take second.
Got eeeeeeeeem @XavierRivas33 pic.twitter.com/zFiH0CB18Z
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 12, 2023
Purdue’s pair of infield singles in the fifth were eventually stranded by Rivas, protecting the Rebel lead. Harris chased down the tying run, sending him back to third for an out.
Mid 5 | The Rebs cut the tying run down to preserve the lead!
Ole Miss 2, Purdue 1 pic.twitter.com/WTrhEiO8FF
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 12, 2023
After allowing one run in the second, Rivas put up zeros for four straight innings. The lefty ended with 6 innings of work, 1 earned run, 6 Ks, and only 1 walk.
“I thought he was terrific,” Coach said postgame on Rivas:
“Certainly his best outing and as he said, really good command…Today, the slider was really, really good to them. Kinda reminiscent of Nikhazy, a lot of glove side balls and fast balls in.”
Coach Bianco
Senior Matt Parenteau was called on for relief to start the seventh inning. Matt recorded one out, allowing a hit and a walk before being replaced by JT Quinn.
Quinn took over in the seventh with runners at first and second. The freshman loaded the bases with a walk, later stranding them all to get the Rebs back to the plate.
Did JT Quinn get out of that bases-loaded jam? pic.twitter.com/adJIaluhoH
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 12, 2023
JT was knocked off the mound in the eighth after a single and walk. He finished with 1 inning pitched, 2 walks and 2 Ks.
Sam Tookoian took over for Quinn with one down and two runners on in the eighth. Took loaded the bases, then bounced back with some big pitches to leave them all stranded.
Mid 8 | TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK! The Boilers leave the bases loaded in back-to-back innings.
Ole Miss 3, Purdue 1 pic.twitter.com/rLDT2rmla8
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 12, 2023
Tookoian came back out in the ninth and got one out before Mitch Murrell was called out of the pen to finish the game. Tookoian ended with an inning of work, 2 walks and 1 K.
Murrell recorded the final two outs, allowing Rivas to collect his fourth win of the season. Mitch earned his first save of the season, adding a K to his line as well.
The Rebel bullpen shut the door behind Rivas, not allowing another run after his exit.
Xavier talked about the efforts of the pitching staff.
“That’s huge. Especially going to SEC play where runs are probably gonna be a little harder to come by. It’s really nice to see us put a one up on board.”
Xavier Rivas on the Ole Miss pitching staff
At the Plate
The Rebels entered the bottom of the second trailing Purdue 1-0. That was until Peyton Chatagnier drew a walk that led to Ethan Lege singling to right to knot it at 1-1 heading to the third.
Tied up! @_ethanlege sends Chatagnier home. pic.twitter.com/0hFeHUu6eX
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 12, 2023
Ole Miss took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to Ethan Groff doubling and then later scoring off a single from Calvin Harris.
Rebs on top! 🎩@Calvin_Harris33 pic.twitter.com/q9llhuCHUC
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 12, 2023
Lege drove in his second run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth, plating TJ McCants with a SAC fly to deep center field. The Rebel lead extended to 3-1 through six played.
Anthony Calarco notched a hit in the eighth, singling to put Kemp Alderman on third base. McCants took advantage of that, singling through the right side to drive Kemp in which extended the Rebel lead to three runs.
Some insurance for the Rebs courtesy of @mccants_tj! pic.twitter.com/NDvf8yV0R0
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 12, 2023
Lege continued to have a great day at the plate, collecting his third and fourth RBIs of the day with a single through the left side. This gave the Rebs a 6-1 lead with three outs to go.
Never Skip Leg(e) Day pic.twitter.com/NqKbwCswFA
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 12, 2023
Coach Bianco talked about his third baseman Lege after the game.
“A guy that you heard about throughout the fall and early spring, you know how well he’s played here. We’ve swung it really well, but he’s one of the guys that hasn’t…I think he’s a big piece of the offense and you can see today why.”
Coach Bianco on Lege
Up Next
The Rebels will begin a four-game road trip on Tuesday at 6 pm in Jacksonville, Alabama against Jacksonville State. The short week will continue on Thursday in Nashville when the Rebs visit Vanderbilt at 6 pm for the start of SEC play.
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.
