Rebels Bully High Point in Game 3 to Win Series With Run-Rule
OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels baseball team locked up its first weekend series of the 2024 season on Sunday afternoon with a dominant 25-2 victory over the High Point Panthers at Swayze Field in seven innings, forcing the second run-rule game of the series.
The weekend started off shaky for Ole Miss, as the Rebels lost ugly in their home opener on Friday night to High Point, but things quickly turned around for Ole Miss the rest of the series.
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In games two and three, the Rebels totaled 37 runs while High Point only mustered four. Ole Miss forced the infamous run-rule on Saturday and Sunday.
Sophomore RHP Grayson Saunier started on the mound for Ole Miss on Sunday, and made it through four innings of relatively clean work, recording three hits, one earned run, and five strikeouts in his second start of the season. Lefties Liam Doyle and Austin Simmons followed up Saunier on the mound, and senior RHP Connor Spencer closed out the game for Ole Miss.
Ole Miss started the game with a literal bang thanks to a solo shot from outfielder Ethan Groff, and the flood gates opened up after that. The Rebels scored 11 runs in the bottom of the first, and added on four more in the second. OIe Miss tacked on 10 more runs in the third and fourth innings before the Rebels parked the bus.
Groff and third basemen Andrew Fischer were red-hot at the plate on Sunday, as the two combined for six RBIs, two doubles, two home runs, and also drew two walks. The Rebels as a team demonstrated tremendous plate discipline in game three, drawing 19 total walks from High Point pitchers.
The Rebels improve to 4-4 following the win over High Point, and will look to get over the .500 mark on Tuesday when Ole Miss hosts the Little Rock Trojans at Swayze Field for some midweek action. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. CT, and the starting pitcher has not been revealed yet by Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco.