Will Furniss’ Big Night Helps Ole Miss Defeat No. 18 Alabama, 9-8, to Even the Series
OXFORD, Miss. – With the help of the pitching staff and a ‘red hot’ Will Furniss, the Ole Miss Rebel baseball team bounced back to even the series in a thrilling 9-8 win over the 23rd-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.
Rebs swing back to tie the series! pic.twitter.com/oVojDHaE5m
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 27, 2024
On the mound
Southpaw Liam Doyle took the bump on Friday for his usual game-two start for the Rebels. The former transfer started his night with a 1-2-3 frame, picking up a pair of Ks along the way.
Two Ks on some high heat from @Doyle22L ⛽️
📺 SECN+ pic.twitter.com/3R6c01nReO
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 26, 2024
Doyle allowed just two base runners over the next two frames, keeping the Crimson Tide bats quiet and off the scoreboard. In the top of the fourth, the Rebel starter gave up a solo shot to right that cut the Ole Miss lead to 3-1 but still held the Tide at bay following their first score.
In the top of the fifth, Doyle walked the leadoff man and then got one more out before head coach Mike Bianco called JT Quinn out of the pen to replace the starter. Doyle worked 4.1 innings, allowed just three hits, two runs, walked a pair and sat down five.
Coach Bianco commented on Doyle’s performance after the game.
“I thought he was terrific. I thought he hit a wall there, the fastball was ticking down a little bit, getting behind in the count…he can be really good and really dominant. He has had a couple of tough starts and a lot of really good ones like this, giving us opportunities to win baseball games.“
~ Bianco on Doyle’s start on Friday night
Quinn recorded one out during his performance and gave up a three-run home run that ultimately gave Alabama their first lead. Gunnar Dennis then came out of the pen to record the final out, but the Tide led 5-3 going into the bottom of the fifth.
After reclaiming the lead in the bottom of the fifth, the Crimson Tide lineup went right back to work on the Rebel defense. Dennis recorded the first out of the frame, then the Alabama batters went to work as they added a pair of runs off three hits to make it 7-7.
Dennis allowed a couple of base runners in the top of the seventh, resulting in Alabama plating another run via a sacrifice fly that made it 9-8 Rebels.
The lefty Dennis did not come back out for the start of the eighth as Mason Morris was called out of the pen to take over. Dennis finished with 2.1 innings of work, struck out a pair, walked just one and allowed three runs. The southpaw was credited with the win tonight as well.
Morris was lights out in his lone frame, not allowing a baserunner as he kept the Rebs in front after one inning pitched.
Connor Spencer trotted down from the pen to begin the ninth in an attempt to record the final three outs to even the series. The Rebel closer did just that, allowing a base runner but shutting the door for the save.
At the plate
The Rebel bats were quiet Thursday night with just six hits in the shutout loss to the Tide to open the series. But on Friday night, Will Furniss had different plans in the bottom of the first. After Ethan Groff reached by getting hit by a pitch, Furniss doubled to right-center field to make it 1-0 Ole Miss after one inning.
Furniss Friday 🔥@WillFurniss | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/Eq0RUn62no
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 26, 2024
After a 1-2-3 second frame, the Rebel lineup began a two-out rally in the bottom of the third that started with a Furniss single. Jackson Ross then drew his second walk of the contest which allowed Luke Hill to come to the plate and single through the right-side to drive in a run. Eli Berch then drew a walk with the bases juiced, scoring another for Ole Miss to make it 3-0 after three played.
Luke 🔒-ed in this inning@Luke_Hill22 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/fyeHcFUkfR
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 27, 2024
Despite giving up the lead in the top of the fifth, the Rebel bats did not give in. Down 5-3, Ross drew his third walk of the night and Hill followed with his second hit of the night. Judd Utermark then drove in both runners with a single to center field to tie the game at five apiece.
Tied ballgame!@JuddUtermark | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/kx7PCndyMn
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 27, 2024
Still in the bottom of the fifth, Andrew Fischer was thrown out trying to stretch his double into a triple; however, the third baseman drove in two more Rebel runs to reclaim the lead, 7-5.
REBS LEAD‼️@SirFischer3 | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/wwVhnJlhrC
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 27, 2024
Tied once again in the home half of the sixth, Ethan Lege came to the plate and sent a no-doubt solo shot into the left-field seats to reclaim the Rebel lead. Furniss then came to the plate and crushed the first pitch he saw, making it back-to-back jacks for the Rebels as they led 9-7.
ETHAN LEGE INTO THE PARKING LOT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/PLWxvCW8QA
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 27, 2024
Furniss Friday, like we said 😤@WillFurniss | SECN+ pic.twitter.com/fVg56tL5Up
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 27, 2024
Furniss has been nothing but outstanding the past few weeks for the Rebels, especially in SEC play. The first baseman went 4-for-5 at the plate tonight with two doubles, a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored as well. He took the chance to take it in during the postgame.
“I’ve never had one like that before (a game like tonight). I think it would not mean as much if we lost, I wouldn’t be as excited. It’s great that I had four hits and two doubles, home run and all that, but if double-deuce (Connor Spencer) doesn’t come in and close the door and Mason Morris doesn’t throw well, and if nobody else gets on base to score runs, it’s just a 4 for 5 night with a loss and it doesn’t really matter. I think us getting the win made it even bigger.“
~ Furniss on his career night at the plate
The Rebels were held scoreless in the next two frames but ultimately closed out the one-run win.
The rubber game of the series is set for 2:00 p.m. CT Saturday. Hotty Toddy!
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.
