Ole Miss baseball takes opening game over Morehead State, 10-3
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss Rebel baseball team cruised to a series-opening victory on the diamond over the Morehead State Eagles Friday night as bats were ‘hot’ all the way down the lineup in the 10-3 victory.
Game 1 to the good guys! pic.twitter.com/QO8Z3q7UAA
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 9, 2024
On the mound
While changes were made to the Ole Miss weekend pitching rotation again this week, head coach Mike Bianco decided to stick with Southpaw Gunnar Dennis on Friday night. The lefty went straight to work, filling the strike zone as usual for a three-up-three-down first frame.
Dennis found himself in some trouble in his second frame as the Eagles began to produce baserunners. A hit-by-pitch and a walk issued by the lefty allowed a single to right field to plate a run for Morehead State. The Eagles did not stop there though, as a throwing error by Luke Hill allowed another run to scratch across to tie things up at two apiece.
The Rebel Southpaw had another tough to begin the top of the third, allowing a leadoff single and then making an error on a pickoff to first that allowed the runner to advance to third. Another single off the bat of a Morehead State batter then made it a three-point Ole Miss lead, 6-3, before Dennis could get out of it.
A couple of base knocks from the Eagles in the top of the fourth did not stop Dennis from putting a zero in the frame. The Southpaw then seemed to find something that was working for them in the fifth, making it his first 1-2-3 inning since the top of the first.
Coach Bianco commented on Dennis’s performance tonight in the postgame.
“I am proud of him tonight…I don’t think he had his best stuff today, obviously. I don’t know if it was the dampness or, whatever it was, it seemed like he didn’t have a good feel with anything to start…but after that he really locked in. He was super-efficient, made a ton of pitches and ran out for the fifth because he felt fine…I was proud of the way he pitched.“
~ Head coach Mike Bianco on Gunnar Dennis
Captain Mitch Murrell replaced Dennis on the bump to begin the sixth. Dennis finished with five innings of work, allowed just one earned run, issued one walk and added five punchouts as well. The Southpaw was credited with the win for Ole Miss tonight, his third of the season.
That’s a wrap for the lefty @dennis_gunnar 🎬
5.0 IP
5 H
1 ER
1 BB
5 K pic.twitter.com/EKjQCUwBqF— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 9, 2024
Through a pair of frames, Murrell sat down all six batters he faced as he punched out four Eagle batters along the way.
Sam Tookoian took over the mound for Murrell to begin the eighth. Murrell finished with two innings of work, did not allow a hit or a walk and added the four Ks as well.
Nasty changeup from @Mitch_Murrell 😈 pic.twitter.com/q9TUujTw1i
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 9, 2024
Tookoian looked similar to Murrell outside of the one blemish in the top of the ninth when he hit a Morehead State batter. The big righty was able to close out the victory for the Rebels, giving them their first Friday night win since opening weekend.
Tookoian spoke on the early season success of the bullpen in the postgame.
“I think we are definitely a mature, older group than were last year. We had a ton of new guys throwing so that year under your belt helps a lot. Once again, the confidence. Everyone knows they are good enough. They know they can strike guys out, get guys out, just do what they do and throw it in the zone. We have harped a lot on that this year, throwing strikes.“
~ Tookoian on the success of the bullpen
The ‘pen was stingy tonight.@STookoian x @Mitch_Murrell
4.0 IP
0 H
0 R
0 BB
7 K pic.twitter.com/k2yqHav33L— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 9, 2024
At the plate
The Ole Miss lineup in recent games has looked the way everyone expected them to look in the preseason. Ethan Lege has been a huge part of that in year two as a Rebel and he got to work early in this one. After a two-out single from Jackson Ross, Lege blasted a two-run shot to left field to give Ole Miss an early 2-0 lead after the first.
Great start to spring break! @_ethanlege | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/zajoBvxgi8
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 9, 2024
After the Eagles tied things up at the top of the second, the Rebels immediately came back with answers. Will Furniss drew a one-out walk which then brought Campbell Smithwick to the plate. The Ole Miss catcher hit a line drive to the left-center field gap, which allowed Furniss to score from first.
That was just the beginning of a huge inning for the Ole Miss bats. A single off the bat of freshman Brayden Randle put runners on the corners for Ethan Groff who then singled through the left side to score Smithwick.
Will Furniss was cookin’ 💨🧑🍳@campbellrsoup ➡️ @WillFurniss pic.twitter.com/PURIbFEU7X
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 9, 2024
A double steal then put a pair of runners in scoring position and Andrew Fischer took full advantage, sending another Ole Miss single in through the infield gaps that made it 6-2 in the Rebels’ favor through two played.
Sent ’em home!@sirfischer3 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/uKqbNdiY5t
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 9, 2024
Again, Ole Miss answered in the bottom half of the frame after the Eagles plated a run in the top of the third. The shortstop Hill singled into left field which then brought Furniss to the plate. The Rebel designated hitter did what he does best, hitting a ‘screamer’ to the right-center field wall that allowed Hill to score from first.
Pearl River Logo + 10 points for @WillFurniss pic.twitter.com/6fSd53Lfw4
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 9, 2024
Going into the fourth, the Rebel lineup found success with something it had struggled with to start the year, hitting with two outs and runners in scoring position.
Lege singled which put runners on the corners for Treyson Hughes. The Ole Miss right fielder then doubled off the left field wall, scoring Lege and Fischer to make it 9-3 Rebels after four played.
Wall hack @HughesTreyson 🎮
📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/SkglS16zQR
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 9, 2024
The Rebels continued to swing the bats well, going deeper into the game as all Ole Miss hitters in the lineup tonight recorded a hit through five innings.
In the top of the sixth, Ole Miss again plated a run with two outs. After Fischer’s one-out double, a punchout then brought Lege back to the plate and the junior stayed hot, beating out the throw to first which allowed Fischer to score and make it a 10-3 game.
Coach Bianco commented on the hot streak the Rebel bats have been on recently.
“One thing I didn’t realize was that everyone in the lineup got a base hit and 8 of the 9 scored so you know you’re doing it throughout the lineup. Early on, we had huge production from Groff, Lege and Ross. Tonight, other guys played really well. I think of Randle, names you haven’t heard or haven’t talked a ton about…throughout the lineup we have swung it well.“
~ Coach Bianco on the Rebels’ hitting
Coming into tonight, the Rebels were tied for the SEC lead in walks drawn; however, the Eagles did not issue very many free ones tonight. Instead, the Rebels took advantage of runners in scoring position and looked great in two out-hitting situations.
Ole Miss went 5 for 9 with runners in scoring position and 8 for 13 with two outs, knocking in 10 of their 13 runs.
Up Next
The Diamond Rebels will be back in action for game two of the weekend series against Morehead State Saturday, looking to take the series with a win. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm CT on the SEC Network+.
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.
