Ole Miss rallies to defeat Georgia in game one, 7-3
OXFORD, Miss. – With only four weeks left in conference play and entering Friday’s contest against Georgia sitting at 3-15 in league action, Ole Miss found itself in what could be considered a must-win position. The Rebs fell behind early but rallied back to defeat the Bulldogs, 7-3, at Swayze.
(Click here for box score.)
Prior to tonight’s game, Georgia was listed as one of D1 Baseball’s “Last Four In” for the NCAA Tournament. After game one, the Bulldogs now sit at 23-19 overall and 7-12 in SEC play. The Rebels move to 22-20, 4-15 in conference play.
The big blast and game-winning RBI Friday night came off the bat of Rebel second baseman Peyton Chatagnier. The Houston-area senior powered a 3-1 blast to dead centerfield at Swayze in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie with Bulldogs.
REBS LEAD pic.twitter.com/btLcVq2yJd
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 29, 2023
The home run measured 405 feet and was Chatagnier’s seventh deep ball of the year.
“I was looking for a fastball, had a good swing,” Chatagnier said postgame about his home run. “I was honestly kind of worried because it went to center but luckily it went out.”
Georgia kicked off the scoring in the second inning with two runs, but the Rebels answered in the third with two runs of their own.
TJ McCants walked to lead off the third, stealing second and then advancing to third on a throwing error. He scored on a Jacob Gonzalez sacrifice fly. Chatagnier would also score in the inning on a single from Ethan Lege. Lege was moved up to the two hole in the lineup for today’s game.
Ole Miss later took the lead in the fourth when Will Furniss singled home Ethan Groff.
Furniss notched a huge double in the eighth to provide the Rebels some much-needed breathing room, scoring Kemp Alderman and Anthony Calarco in the process.
Welcome to @WillFurniss Insurance Corp. pic.twitter.com/hAFS6wTLzE
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 29, 2023
Ole Miss scored an additional run when Chatagnier’s grounder to third turned into a fielder’s choice, scoring Groff’s second run. On the night, the Rebels would tally eight hits — with six of those coming from Lege, Furniss and Chatagnier, alone.
The defensive play of the game was Calarco’s scoop at first to complete a double play in the sixth inning.
THAT PICK THO @antcalarco pic.twitter.com/vBg33WPCBK
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 29, 2023
On the mound
In total, the Rebels used five different pitchers. Starter Xavier Rivas went four complete innings, striking out seven, walking four and allowing just two runs.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌avier Rivas with 7 Ks through four pic.twitter.com/xvdrsseopI
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 29, 2023
Out of the bullpen for one inning each were Brayden Jones, Mitch Murrell, and Mason Nichols.
Jones’ final line includes 2 hits, one run, zero walks and zero strikeouts in 17 pitches thrown to four batters. Murrell faced five batters and did not give up a hit or a run.
Nichols gave up no hits, no runs, walked one and struck out two as he faced four Bulldogs. He also earned the win and moves to 3-3 on the season.
Ring 'em up!
☎️ @masonichols11 pic.twitter.com/DYyekdI5QI
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 29, 2023
Jack Dougherty pitched the final two innings and recorded five of his six outs via the strikeout. His final line includes no runs, one hit, one walk, and the five strikeouts. Dougherty earned the save, his second on the season.
J.F.D. pic.twitter.com/bQXrjujFtT
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 29, 2023
The staff pitched out of jams over and over as they left 12 Georgia runners stranded while not allowing a single inherited runner to score. They were aided by two double plays turned in by the Ole Miss infield.
After being out last weekend, Dougherty was glad to be back on the mound.
“It felt great tonight. It was good to get that week of rest. It felt good to bounce back stronger than I was before.”
Jack Dougherty
Grinding out the win
Bianco offered his thoughts on the much-needed win. “Proud that our guys hung in there,” he said postgame. “It wasn’t an easy game, obviously.”
The Rebels’ skipper talked about having Dougherty come in to close out the game.
“All that we’ve been through…to get somebody with some confidence in at the end, somebody that the crowd was excited to see after missing a weekend last weekend,” Bianco said.
“It’s tough, though. It’s tough to find that spot to bring him in,” Bianco continued regarding Dougherty. “Didn’t want to bring him in during the fifth to where he couldn’t finish the game….and he hasn’t been out of the pen since the first weekend. There were times when other guys were loose before he could get going. So we used several guys before going to (Dougherty). It didn’t matter. We had to win the game.”
While Coach Bianco was not pleased with the number of Georgia batters who made it on base, he did take note of what ultimately mattered most — and that’s how many Bulldogs were unable to score.
“I thought it wasn’t a good night for us (the bullpen). Like we say, there’s good and bad with everything. Everybody before Jack (Dougherty), it was one of those where we walked too many people and let too many on base. The good news is we punched out a bunch of people with runners in scoring position. We didn’t let any inherited runners score and that’s a big stat…nobody let the runners in.”
Coach Bianco
Next Up
The Rebels look to win their first SEC series of the year when they play the Bulldogs Saturday. The start time has been moved up to Noon CT due to expected weather in the area.
Right-hander JT Quinn (3-0, 5.48 ERA, 42.2 innings pitched, 47 strikeouts, 23 walks) will start for Ole Miss. Georgia will throw lefty Charlie Goldstein (2-1, 4.64 ERA, 33 innings pitched, 40 strikeouts, 15 walks).
Hotty Toddy!
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
Chris Muller
Chris is our Director of Baseball Content and Senior Baseball Writer. Muller is a 1995 Graduate of Ole Miss. He is a collegiate recreational sports professional currently residing in Arlington Texas with his wife of 25 years, Amber, and German Shorthaired Pointer, Sophie. Chris is an avid Ole Miss Baseball and Football fan. His hobbies include watching college football and baseball and playing poker with his friends.
