Rebels Win Series vs. High Point: Three Takeaways
The Ole Miss Rebels flipped the switch overnight, and after the series-opening loss to the High Point Panthers brought their losing streak to four games, they decided it was enough.
Here are three takeaways from the High Point series after a dominating finish in the final two games.
Ole Miss Athletics
Rebels Rake
Ole Miss hitters combined to hit nine homers in the games on Saturday and Sunday.
Jackson Ross swatted four long balls in the series with two in Saturday's game. With those kinds of numbers in a weekend, you aren't going to lose many series.
After the 12-2 win on Saturday, the Rebels almost tied that amount in the first inning. Eleven runs were platted in the bottom of the first, and Ethan Groff started the magic with a home run to left field on the second pitch. Overall, the Rebels looked more confident at the plate, which helped them secure that first series win
New Crafty Lefty?
Gunnar Dennis shinned in his first start at Swayze Field on Saturday night, going 4.2 innings had eight strikeouts and only two walks.
Ole Miss always seems to have a lefty that just gives hitters fits with a high 80s fastball and good breaking balls, and Dennis seems to fit the mold well. He is now 2-0 in the young season, but with stiffer competition upcoming in the form of the Iowa Hawkeyes, command has to be the main priority. You can't give good teams free bags.
Plate Discipline
Rebel hitters looked more comfortable in the box on Saturday and Sunday as they forced 19 walks in Sunday's 25-2 drubbing of High Point.
Being more selective was a point of emphasis after the Hawaii series, and it seems to have been preached around the clubhouse. Free bases equal runs, and once Rebel hitters were able to identify the zone and spit on pitches outside of it, they found more success and put the big part of the bat on the ball and did damage.
The Rebels have two midweek this week (Tuesday against Little Rock and Wednesday against Missouri State) before they welcome the Iowa Hawkeyes to town for the biggest test the Rebs have had so far.