Ole Miss falls to Auburn in game three on Senior Day at Swayze as Tigers sweep the Rebels
OXFORD, Miss. – After a rough doubleheader at Swayze Friday — where the Auburn Tigers took both games and the series win over Ole Miss — the Rebels sported the powder blues on Saturday, hoping to take one game from the visitors. Unfortunately, Ole Miss fell short, 13-5, and Auburn completed the sweep.
Ole Miss is 25-26 overall and 6-21 in SEC play, while Auburn is 30-19-1 and 14-13 in conference play.
Saturday was Senior day for the Rebs. Captain Garrett Wood and first baseman Anthony Calarco were recognized before first pitch.
Head coach Mike Bianco was asked about his team captain postgame.
“Just a really neat kid, obviously, to not be a regular and get elected captain shows you what his teammates think about it. That doesn’t happen often, a lot of times the stars are selected and sometimes for the wrong reason…I think that’s probably the best example of what people think about him in the program. Terrific kid, selfless will do whatever you ask him to do and play just about every position on the field. Just glad he’s been a part of our program.”
Coach Bianco on Garrett Wood
On the Bump
Freshman Grayson Saunier found himself starting the final game of the weekend series once again for the Rebs. After a four-pitch walk to the first batter, Saunier rebounded quickly and sat down the next three Auburn hitters for a strong start in game three.
Off and running @GraysonSaunier 💨 pic.twitter.com/2hL8WckkJl
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 13, 2023
In the top of the second inning, following a double down the line, Saunier eventually gave up the first run of the ballgame, allowing a single to plate the Auburn runner in scoring position.
Then, with two down, a single and an error from second baseman Peyton Chatagnier allowed the Tigers to plate another to extend their lead to 2-0.
Saunier’s first pitch of the top of third came and went in a hurry, as another Auburn run was tallied via a solo shot to right to make it 3-0, Tigers, through two and half played.
WEB-GEM ALERT! A deep shot to centerfield prompted center fielder Ethan Groff to make a leaping grab off the wall, possibly saving a run for the Rebs in the top of the fourth.
ETHAN GROFF MY GOODNESS#SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/a44osW7vrV
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 13, 2023
A single and then a walk to begin the fifth would mark the end of Saunier’s day. The freshman ended with 4 innings of work, 5 runs allowed off 7 hits, 3 walks and 3 Ks. Freshman Cole Ketchum would come on in relief.
Unfortunately, an infield single loading the bases for the Tigers followed by a grand slam to deep right field would break the game open, making it 7-0 Auburn. Ketchum’s day would end quickly after the grand slam. The freshman allowed 3 runs off 4 hits before being replaced by Mason Nichols with nobody out in the top of the fifth.
The bleeding would continue, unfortunately, as Nichols allowed a couple more singles leading to runners racing home for Auburn. The Tigers would take a 9-0 lead following their six-run frame in the top of the fifth.
WEB-GEM ALERT PT. 2! In the midst of a not-so-favorable inning for the Rebs, center fielder Groff again made another leaping grab at the wall. This time, he without a doubt saved a couple of runs and ended the long Auburn inning.
ETHAN GROFF AGAIN@ethangroff12 x #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/q5ov8wvWEw
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 13, 2023
After a huge fifth inning, the Tigers would eventually extend their lead more and into double digits. Nichols began the seventh allowing a solo shot to left which gave Auburn a 10-0 cushion.
Following a two-out walk, Nichols was replaced by sophomore Cole Tolbert. Nichols ended his day with 2.2 innings pitched, 3 runs off 2 hits, 2 walks and a pair Ks.
Tolbert eventually allowed a pair of singles which added two Auburn runs to the scoreboard, giving the Tigers a 12-0 lead. Ole Miss would fight back by scoring four runs in the 7th, ending the threat of a mercy-rule stoppage.
Trailing 12-4 in the top of the ninth, Tolbert saw the end of his outing with 1.1 innings of work. He allowed one run off 6 hits before being replaced Jackson Kimbrell.
Auburn and Ole Miss each scored one in the ninth, bringing the final score to 13-5, Tigers.
The Rebel pitching staff allowed 20 Auburn hits on the day along with three home runs. Grayson Saunier was credited with the loss on the day.
At the Plate
The Rebs were pretty quiet at the plate through the first three played as Groff and Jacob Gonzalez were the only two Rebels to collect hits in those frames.
Ole Miss continued its struggles at the plate through the fifth inning. Trailing 9-0, the bats had not found any life with only three Rebel hits in the box score.
Ethan Lege doubled to begin the bottom of the seventh, followed by Garrett Wood pinch hitting and drawing a walk. Another pinch hitter came through for the Rebs as Bo Gatlin stepped up to the plate to send a liner in the gap to score two. Those were the first runs for Ole Miss in the game.
Gapper for @BoGatlin brings home two. pic.twitter.com/t6w1Gky8U0
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 13, 2023
John Kramer continued to add on, as he hit a no-doubt, two-run bomb to right field to quickly made it 12-4 as the Rebs escaped the 7-inning run-rule.
NO-DOUBTER @johnkrameriv pic.twitter.com/DbCIhJ6rG4
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 13, 2023
The Ole Miss bats struggled to wake up until the late innings of this one. Just four hits were in the box score, with no runs, until the seventh for the Rebs.
The multi-hit seventh which added the four runs was the only real action Ole Miss had on the base paths. With only one walk drawn and a hit by pitch for the day, the Rebels struggled to consistently put runners in scoring position.
Eliminated from SEC Tournament contention
The loss, combined with Missouri’s win Saturday, means Ole Miss cannot mathematically make the SEC Tournament, which includes the league’s top twelve teams.
After the game, Coach Bianco spoke on being eliminated from postseason play.
“I mean at the end of the day, it’s our job, we talk about that a lot and being consistent and showing up. At the end of the day we don’t do the math. I didn’t even know that was the deal (being eliminated). You just keep playing and let the chips fall where they may…(We’ve) never been here, never had a losing record this late. A lot of firsts for all of us, but it’s not about me, obviously it’s been tough.”
Coach Bianco
Up Next
On Tuesday, May 16th, the Rebs are scheduled to play the final game at Swayze this season versus Austin Peay at 6:30 p.m. Ole Miss will then wrap up the regular season on the road at Alabama next weekend.
(Feature image credit: Ole Miss Baseball)
Kameron Wicker
Kam is an undergraduate 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.
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