In-Game Updates: Ole Miss Opens SEC Play vs. South Carolina
OXFORD, Miss. -- This is where the rubber meets the road for Ole Miss Rebels baseball.
Mike Bianco's squad opens play in the Southeastern Conference on Friday at home against the No. 20 South Carolina Gamecocks, and it looks to keep its foot on the gas after winning 11 of its last 12 games and seven in a row.
A slight mist is falling in Oxford with about 30 minutes until first pitch, but baseball is expected to be played after a rainy day in North Mississippi. Follow along below for live updates between the Rebels and Gamecocks.
Ole Miss Athletics
PREGAME
Ole Miss will once again be handing the ball to LHP Gunnar Dennis to get things started on the hill on Friday night, and the entirety of the Rebels' starting lineup can be found below.
1. Ethan Groff -- CF
2. Andrew Fischer -- 3B
3. Jackson Ross -- 1B
4. Ethan Lege -- LF
5. Treyson Hughes -- RF
6. Luke Hill -- SS
7. Will Furniss -- DH
8. Eli Berch -- C
9. Brayden Randle -- 2B
LHP Gunnar Dennis
The Rebels are once again in their cream uniforms to open this weekend series, and South Carolina is countering with black hats, gray jerseys and gray pants.
FIRST INNING
Gunnar Dennis hits the leadoff man in the helmet, and SC has a man aboard.
Dennis had the runner picked off as he took off for second, but Jackson Ross drops the ball and he arrives safely. That's followed by a swinging strikeout for the first out of the inning.
Dennis hits Ethan Petry of South Carolina, and runners are at first and second with one down.
A flyout to Ethan Groff puts two men down with two aboard, and another strikeout retires the side.
MID 1: Ole Miss 0, South Carolina 0
Ethan Groff pushes the first pitch he sees through the four-hole, and the Rebels have the leadoff man aboard. A long flyout from Andrew Fischer is the first out of the frame.
A wild pitch advances Groff to second, and Jackson Ross goes down swinging for out No. 2. Ethan Lege draws a walk to put two runners on with two out.
Treyson Hughes chops out to second to end the inning.
END 1: Ole Miss 0, South Carolina 0
SECOND INNING
South Carolina is on the board first after two runners reach and a double brings them home. South Carolina 2, Ole Miss 0
No further damage comes across for the Gamecocks.
MID 2: South Carolina 2, Ole Miss 0
Ole Miss brings a run home on a GIDP from Eli Berch, and the South Carolina lead is cut in half. South Carolina 2, Ole Miss 1
Nothing else comes across for Ole Miss in the bottom half.
END 2: South Carolina 2, Ole Miss 1
THIRD INNING
Dennis works around a two-out single to keep the Gamecocks off the board.
MID 3: South Carolina 2, Ole Miss 1
The Rebels go down in order in a quick bottom of the third.
END 3: South Carolina 2, Ole Miss 1
FOURTH INNING
An RBI groundout brings home another run for the Gamecocks, and their lead grows back to two. South Carolina 3, Ole Miss 1
A swinging strikeout ends the frame for Dennis.
MID 4: South Carolina 3, Ole Miss 1
The Rebels push across a run on an RBI groundout from Will Furniss. South Carolina 3, Ole Miss 2
A lineout from Eli Berch strands a runner at third for Ole Miss and ends the inning.
END 4: South Carolina 3, Ole Miss 2
FIFTH INNING
Batter's interference eliminates two Gamecocks in one swoop, and Dennis surrenders a two-out walk to keep the inning alive.
A strikeout ends the frame.
MID 5: South Carolina 3, Ole Miss 2
The Rebels hit some balls hard, but they fail to bring a run home.
END 5: South Carolina 3, Ole Miss 2
SIXTH INNING
Mitch Murrell is now on the mound for Ole Miss, and he works a clean 1-2-3 inning.
MID 6: South Carolina 3, Ole Miss 2
An Ethan Lege single chases Eli Jones from the game for SC, and in comes RHP Chris Veach.
Ole Miss has the lead as Luke Hill hits a bases-clearing double. Ole Miss 4, South Carolina 3
Nothing else for the Rebels in the frame as they strand two baserunners.
END 6: Ole Miss 4, South Carolina 3
SEVENTH INNING
Mason Nichols now toes the rubber for Ole Miss, and he retires the Gamecocks in order.
MID 7: Ole Miss 4, South Carolina 3
After back-to-back walks start the inning, South Carolina returns to the bullpen, and Parker Marlatt enters the game on the hill.
Treyson Hughes grounds into a double play, but a run comes home for Ole Miss to extend the lead. Ole Miss 5, South Carolina 3
A groundout from Hill ends the inning.
END 7: Ole Miss 5, South Carolina 3
EIGHTH INNING
The first two men have reached for South Carolina in the top of the eighth on a leadoff double and a walk.
The Rebels get one out on a ground ball to third, but a throwing error on an attempt to turn two brings a run home for the Gamecocks. Ole Miss 5, South Carolina 4
After a HBP, Bianco is returning to the bullpen for Ole Miss, and in comes Connor Spencer.
A clutch play on a grounder to second base by Brayden Randle ends the inning, and Ole Miss retains its lead.
MID 8: Ole Miss 5, South Carolina 4
The Rebels can't push anything across in the bottom half, and we head to the ninth.
END 8: Ole Miss 5, South Carolina 4
NINTH INNING
The Rebels keep Carolina off the board, and they open conference play with a win.
FINAL: Ole Miss 5, South Carolina 4