LIVE UPDATES: Ole Miss Hosts Iowa For Game Three at Swayze Field
In this story:
OXFORD, Miss. -- We have made it to the second Energy Sunday of the 2024 season at Swayze Field, as the Ole Miss Rebels are set to host the Iowa Hawkeyes for game three of their weekend series with hopes of winning said series.
The Rebels lost the series opener to Iowa on Friday night following a late-inning implosion, but managed to even the score on Saturday thanks to a big afternoon from freshman LHP Austin Simmons.
Follow along below for live updates from Swayze Field, first pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. CT.
PREGAME
Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco released his starting lineup for the day on Sunday earlier this morning, and it can be found below.
1. Ethan Groff -- CF
2. Andrew Fischer -- 3B
3. Jackson Ross -- 1B
4. Ethan Lege -- LF
5. Judd Utermark -- RF
6. Luke Hill -- SS
7. Bo Gatline -- DH
8. Reagan Burford -- 2B
9. Eli Berch -- C
RHP Grayson Saunier
Ole Miss' powder blue uniforms will be making their 2024 debut on Sunday, and Iowa will be wearing gold jerseys with white pants.
FIRST INNING
Grayson Saunier starts his day on the mound with a walk, and a fly out to center field keeps the runner at first. A ground out at first puts a runner in scoring position, but another fly out to right field ends the top of the inning.
MID 1: Ole Miss 0, Iowa 0
Ethan Groff got his day started with a flyout to right field, and Andrew Fischer lined out to first to put the Rebels in a two-out hole in just seven pitches. Jackson Ross was the first batter to reach base for Ole Miss on Sunday after drawing a walk, and advanced to second following a wild pitch.
A pitch thrown behind Ethan Lege landed him at first base, putting two runners on base for Ole Miss with two outs, but a Judd Utermark strikeout ends the inning.
END 1: Ole Miss 0, Iowa 0
SECOND INNING
Two errors and a walk load the bases for Saunier with no outs in the top of the second. However, a fielders choice to third base allows Fischer to throw out the runner heading home, and he closes the top of the frame with a dazzling double play.
MID 2: Ole Miss 0, Iowa 0
Luke Hill works a full count before grounding out to the pitcher to start the bottom of the second, before DH Bo Gatlin flies out to right field in his first at-bat of the afternoon. Reagan Burford reaches first base after drawing a walk, and Eli Berch gives Ole Miss runners on the corners after ripping a single up the middle.
Groff is unable to bring Burford home, however, as a fielder's choice ends the inning.
END 2: Ole Miss 0, Iowa 0
THIRD INNING
A pop fly and ground out to first base puts Iowa in a two-out hole early in the top of the frame. Another pop fly, this time to third base, gets Saunier and the Rebels out of the top of the third with no damage.
MID 3: Ole Miss 0, Iowa 0
Andrew Fischer and Jackson Ross strike out swinging to start the frame for Ole Miss, and an Ethan Lege foul out to first quickly ends the inning for the Rebels.
END 3: Ole Miss 0, Iowa 0
FOURTH INNING
A bloop into right field gets a runner on first for Iowa to start the top of the fourth with one out. Saunier racks up two strikeouts in response to end the frame for the Hawkeyes.
MID 4: Ole Miss 0, Iowa 0
Judd Utermark works his way to a full count before taking a walk to reach first base. Utermark gets in scoring position thanks to a wild pitch, and a flyout to center advances him to third base with just one out. Bo Gatlin flies out to right field to bring Utermark home, and it is now Ole Miss 1, Iowa 0 with two outs.
Reagan Burford ends the inning with a swinging strikeout.
END 4: Ole Miss 1, Iowa 0
FIFTH INNING
A single into left field gets the tying run on first base for Iowa, and a groundout to Saunier advances the runner to second base. Another ground out to short moves the tying run to third, and Saunier makes it runners on the corners with a hit by pitch.
The Rebels keep Iowa off the board with a ground out to third base.
MID 5: Ole Miss 1, Iowa 0
Eli Berch gets on base in the bottom of the fifth with a single to first, and Ethan Groff takes a walk to put two runners on the base path for Ole Miss with zero outs.
Andrew Fischer takes a pitch to the helmet and immediately hits the dirt. Fortunately, Fischer was able to walk off the field and was subsequently replaced by freshman Brayden Randle.
Jackson Ross draws a walk with the bases loaded, and it is now Ole Miss 2, Iowa 0. With the bases still loaded and no outs on the board for Ole Miss, Iowa heads to its bullpen for the first time this afternoon.
Ethan Lege singles to short, and a fumbled throw gets another run across home plate for the Rebels with no outs, and it is now Ole Miss 3, Iowa 0.
A fielder's choice gives Ole Miss its first out of the frame, but the bases remain loaded.
The Rebels bring another runner home thanks to a fielding errror, and it is now Ole Miss 4, Iowa 0. Will Furniss is now up to bat after subbing in for Bo Gatlin, and the bases are still loaded.
A Furniss sac fly scores another run for the Rebels, and it is now Ole Miss 5, Iowa 0.
Reagan Burford flies out to center field, and Ole Miss' productive frame has ended.
END 5: Ole Miss 5, Iowa 0
SIXTH INNING
Freshman LHP Wes Mendes starts the top of the sixth on the mound for Ole Miss. Saunier's afternoon is over after 5.0 clean innings of work.
Mendes wasted no time getting to work, as he started his day with a quick 1-2-3 inning.
MID 6: Ole Miss 5, Iowa 0
Eli Berch gets the frame started with a solo shot into left center and it is now Ole Miss 6, Iowa 0.
Ethan Groff follows the "Berch Bomb" with a line out into right field. Brayden Randle flies out to center field, and Jackson Ross reaches first after drawing a walk. Ross steals second base, but gets stranded after Ethan Lege grounds out to end the inning.
END 6: Ole Miss 6, Iowa 0
SEVENTH INNING
Mendes keeps rolling and strikes out the first batter he sees in the top of the frame. Runners reach the corners for Iowa with one out, but a double play from Luke Hill ends the scoring threat.
MID 7: Ole Miss 6, Iowa 0
Will Furniss struck out swinging but managed to reach first on a passed ball, henceforth allowing Luke Hill to make his way home and it is now Ole Miss 7, Iowa 0 with two outs.
Reagan Burford gets on first and advances to second after Eli Berch gets hit by a pitch. Ethan Groff takes a walk to load the bases for Ole Miss with two outs on the board. Brayden Randle gets hit by a pitch and advances another runner across home plate. It is now Ole Miss 8, Iowa 0.
Jackson Ross strikes out swinging to end the seventh inning.
END 7: Ole Miss 8, Iowa 0
EIGHTH INNING
Wes Mendes is still on the mound for Ole Miss to start the frame. He walked his first batter, but struck out his next two opponents before the Hawkeyes doubled into left field to give them their first run of the day. It is now Ole Miss 8, Iowa 1.
Iowa hits a two-run bomb and it is now Ole Miss 8, Iowa 3.
Kyler Carmack replaces Mendes on the mound to finish the frame. A ground out to second base gets Ole Miss out of the frame.
MID 8: Ole Miss 8, Iowa 3
John Kramer fouls out on the first pitch, Judd Utermark grounds out, and Luke Hill flies out to left field to make up a quick bottom half for Iowa.
END 8: Ole Miss 8, Iowa 3
NINTH INNING
Two strikeouts and a fly out to right field end the game for the Rebels.
FINAL: Ole Miss 8, Iowa 3