Ole Miss Baseball Run-Rules No. 22 Mississippi State to Take 14-2 Win and Series over the Bulldogs
OXFORD, Miss. – After tying the series in game two in extra innings Saturday night, the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team took down in-state rival the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sunday 14-2 in seven innings to take the series for the first time since 2015.
REBS WIN THE SERIES pic.twitter.com/PJXkrcVeTw
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
On the mound
Mississippi native Mason Nichols took the mound on Energy Sunday, marking just the second start of his Rebel career in as many weeks after moving from the bullpen. Nichols cruised through the first two frames, allowing just one base runner and punching out a pair along the way.
Two Ks in a scoreless first for @masonichols11 👏👏
📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/p3IZRrc9Ux
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
Errors on defense have been an issue for Ole Miss all season, which is ultimately how Mississippi State scored its first run of the game on Sunday. With two down in the top of the third, Nichols gave up a double to left-center field, allowing a Bulldog base runner to score from second to make it 3-1 Ole Miss through two-and-a-half played.
After the run scored by the Bulldogs in the third, Nichols was lights out. Over the next three frames, the Rebel starter did not allow a hit or even a base runner as Nichols pitched to contact for three straight 1-2-3 innings.
“There are things that not everybody knows. He (Nichols) has been dealing with a bit of a sinus infection…just proud of him. He’s a Mississippi kid, a kid from Jackson Prep who grew up watching the series his whole life, and to perform like this on this day, it’s terrific.“
~ Coach Bianco on Nichols
Ten straight retired by @masonichols11
📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/XXMm7i5XWn
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
Nichols recorded a quick out to begin the seventh; however, the Bulldog lineup began to find the barrel as the next two batters singled through the infield. After 6.1 innings of work, Nichols was replaced by Gunnar Dennis. Nichols added four strikeouts to his total, did not walk a batter and allowed just one earned run. Nichols was credited with the win for the day.
“I wanted it pretty bad. I was more fueled by my love for Ole Miss and this university, you know we won a National Championship here, but we’ve never beat those guys. Being from Jackson, Mississippi, it has been a dream and I praise the Lord for the opportunity.“
~ Mason Nichols on how much the Rebels wanted this series
Mase was money 💰
6.1 IP
4 H
1 ER
0 BB
4 K pic.twitter.com/GflNtzwpKZ— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
Dennis eventually loaded the bases and then walked in a run for the Bulldogs to make it 8-2 in favor of the Rebels. Just when it looked like Mississippi State was going to make things interesting, Dennis recorded a punchout to strand the bases loaded in the seventh.
The Rebels scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh to run-rule the Bulldogs.
At the plate
Coming off a great night for the bats in extra innings just over 12 hours ago, the Rebel lineup looked to do damage early in the rubber match on Sunday.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the first, Andrew Fischer reached on an infield single which then allowed Ethan Lege to launch his tenth home run of the year.
We ❤️ @_ethanlege
📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/JYXseVvTWy
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
The two-run laser into the left field bullpen gave Ole Miss an early 2-0 lead over the Bulldogs in what felt like a must-win game.
Lege spoke after the game about what the team is feeling like after the series win.
“It completely shifted (the energy in the dugout), just the opposite now. I think yesterday got it going and now it feels great,” Lege said.
The momentum at the plate carried over into the second as well as Campbell Smithwick and Eli Berch both singled through the right side of the infield, putting runners on the corners for Brayden Randle with nobody out. The shortstop then lifted one into center field, deep enough to score Smithwick via a SAC fly and extend the lead to 3-0 after two played.
Fischer and Lege continued their success at the plate in the bottom half of the third, leading off the inning with a single and a walk. A groundout then moved the runners up which allowed Jackson Ross to give Ole Miss a 4-1 via a groundout.
Rebs have scored in each of the first three frames after @sirfischer3 singles, touches home pic.twitter.com/JXswRPFMTW
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
After Ole Miss was held scoreless for the first time Sunday in the bottom of the fourth, Lege led off the bottom of the fifth with purpose. The senior outfielder launched a towering solo shot into the left-center field seats to extend the Rebel lead to 5-1 after five played.
HEthan Lege
📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/q9aZR2qg3j
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
“What have I seen out of him? He’s (Lege) kind of just the heart and soul of this team, just a great leader, great player, selfless, we’ve talked about it all year long…just a great leader who is having a great year.“
~ Coach Bianco on Lege
Luke Hill and Ethan Groff both singled to begin the bottom of the sixth. Both guys swiped second upon reaching as well, which allowed Fischer to single through the right side, scoring Hill.
Fisch ropes one to right to stretch the lead!@sirfischer3 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/ANqaMPcdCA
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
With runners on the corners, Will Furniss singled to the opposite field which allowed Groff to race home and give Ole Miss a 7-1 lead. Ross then lifted a ball close to the warning track in right field, allowing Fischer to tag up and score off the SAC fly. The Rebels took an 8-1 lead into the seventh inning.
Left-on-left crime by @WillFurniss ⬅️
📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/DC4NrsqO5u
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
Leading 8-2 to begin the bottom half of the seventh inning, the Rebel lineup had no plans of letting off the gas. Berch, Randle and Hill all singled back-to-back-to-back to load the bases, which brought Groff to the plate with no one out in the frame. The centerfielder then doubled down the left-field line, clearing the bases to extend the Ole Miss lead to 11-2.
CLEAR THOSE BASES@ethangroff12 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/5U5Ax4WTUr
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
With just one more run needed for the run rule and series win over the Bulldogs, Will Furniss came to the plate and crushed the first pitch he saw over the left field wall for a three-run shot to finish off the run rule win, 14-2.
WILL FURNISS WALKS IT OFF! REBS WIN THE SERIES! pic.twitter.com/nBC5Pr6JXC
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 14, 2024
Up Next
The Rebels will travel to Arkansas State this coming Tuesday, April 16th, to take on the Red Wolves at 6 pm CT. Ole Miss will continue its road trip into Athens next weekend as the Rebs play visitors to the Georgia Bulldogs.
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.
