Ole Miss baseball beats Auburn 11-7 to take game one of the series
Ole Miss baseball took the opening game of the weekend series versus Auburn with an 11-7 road win Friday night.
(Click here for box score.)
The Rebels (24-21, 8-14 SEC) sent RHP Riley Maddox to the mound for his 12th appearance this season. The junior pitched 5.0 innings, striking out three en route to the victory.
“Just proud of the way Riley pitched tonight. I thought we made it difficult once again for him, not being cleaner in the field, but he weathered the storm. He made some pitches and got off the field. Then also to get him some runs I thought was key. We haven’t been fair to him on Friday nights – not scoring runs or getting a lead and being able to extend it — but proud of him.“
Coach Mike Bianco on Riley Maddox’ outing on the mound
The Ole Miss bats got started early as senior Jackson Ross hit a solo home run in the top of the first, later adding an RBI double in the top of the third that gave Ole Miss a 5-1 lead. Andrew Fischer hit a three-run home run in the third.
Friday night fireworks from the Rebs 🧨@Jackson_Ross55 x @sirfischer3 x @WillFurniss pic.twitter.com/00v8P8zKBb
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 4, 2024
Auburn (21-23, 3-19 SEC) scored three in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Rebel lead to 5-4, but Ole Miss kept hitting.
The Diamond Rebs added four runs in the top of the fifth to go up 9-4. Sophomore Will Furniss hit a three-run homer, while Judd Utermark knocked in an RBI single.
“Really good day for us offensively. (Will) Furniss had another huge night for us. I thought (Luke) Hill had a huge night. Fisch (Andrew Fischer) a big home run and at least another single. The one that got us going was the first at bat for (Jackson) Ross…just a good night by us.“
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco
In the seventh, each team added a run as Ole Miss took a 10-5 lead.
The Rebs would score one run in the top of the ninth and then Auburn scored two, stranding bases loaded, before the game ended with the final 11-7 score.
The middle of the order did most of the damage for the Rebels as Jackson Ross, Andrew Fischer, Will Furniss, Luke Hill, and Judd Utermark went a combined 11-for-23 with three home runs, nine RBI, and nine runs scored.
Ole Miss had eight extra-base hits in the game, their highest total since February 25 against High Point. Every Rebel in the lineup reached base at least once and five of the nine posted multi-hit games.
Maddox was relieved by five Ole Miss relief pitchers: Brayden Jones (1.2 IP), Gunnar Dennis (0.1 IP), JT Quinn (1.0 IP), Connor Spencer (0.1 IP), and Mason Morris (0.2 IP).
Maddox earned the win on the mound, allowing just one earned run (four total) over five innings while striking out three batters. He allowed eight hits, but none of them went for extra bases and three were infield singles.
Ole Miss pitching held Auburn to just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and 5-for-24 with runners on base.
The Rebels’ bullpen allowed three runs and five walks in the victory.
Game two of the series is Saturday night with first pitch set for 7 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on SEC Network.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
