Four Rebels Homer as Ole Miss Routs Delaware in Baseball Season Opener

In this story:
OXFORD, Miss. — The reigning national champions got off to a hot start in their 2023 season as the Ole Miss Rebels took down the Delaware Blue Hens 11-2 on Friday.
The Rebels put up a six-spot in the second inning to gain their large lead, and they never looked back as LHP Hunter Elliott threw five innings of two-run ball before turning it over to the bullpen. Second baseman Peyton Chatagnier was also responsible for the season’s first home run, a three-run shot in that same second inning.
In all, Chatagnier was responsible for four RBIs in the win, and six Rebels notched a number in that category. The first RBI of the season came via an infield single from transfer first baseman Anthony Calarco, the one expected to hold down that position after the departure of Tim Elko.
After Hunter Elliott's time on the mound, the Rebels turned things over to a combination of JT Quinn, Mitch Murrell and Matt Parenteau who threw four combined scoreless frames.
Following the six runs in the second and one run in the third, the Rebel bats largely went silent prior to the bottom of the eighth inning. It was then that TJ McCants and Will Furniss hit back-to-back home runs, and Ethan Groff followed that with a two-run shot later in the inning.
With the win, the No. 4 Rebels begin the year at 1-0, and they will continue their series against Delaware on Saturday and Sunday at Swayze Field. First pitch of both games is set for noon on SEC Network+.
You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie.
Hey Rebel Fans! Want to see the Ole Miss in action? Get your Ole Miss game tickets from SI Tickets here!
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Rebels? Click Here.
Follow The Grove Report On Facebook and Twitter.
Want even more Ole Miss Rebels News? Check out the SI.com team page here.

John Macon Gillespie has a journalism background spanning 10 years and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from the University of Mississippi in 2020 and 2022, respectively. His experience in the field includes work on the Ole Miss beat for nine years and high school sports coverage in the state of Mississippi for the Calhoun County Journal. He is currently a columnist for Ole Miss On SI and a high school journalism teacher in North Mississippi.
Follow JMakeGillespie