Brett Huber throws a landshark after beating Alabama. / Ignacio Murillo
FRIDAY: No. 17 OLE MISS 5, TENNESSEE 0
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Junior right-hander Bobby Wahl threw a complete-game shutout of Tennessee (17-19, 5-11 SEC) on Friday night as No. 17 Ole Miss (27-12, 8-8 SEC) opened the weekend series with a 5-0 win over the Volunteers.
Wahl (8-0) allowed three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in picking up the win. It was the first complete-game of Wahl’s career with the Rebels. It’s the second shutout win of the season for Wahl and fifth of his career.
The Rebel offense also got on track with 14 hits on the night behind a 3-for-3 performance from Christian Helsel and a 3-for-5 night from Stuart Turner that included a solo home run, his fourth of the season.
Aaron Quillen (1-2) took the loss for the Volunteers, allowing three runs on eight hits with a strikeout in 4.0 innings of work.
“Bobby was tremendous for us tonight and really continued to do what he’s done all year,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “We came out tonight with a goal of not being tentative in any phase of the game, but especially at the plate. You can’t sit back and wait for something to happen, and we did a good job of being the aggressors tonight.”
SATURDAY: No. 17 OLE MISS 6, TENNESSEE 4
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Leadoff home runs in back-to-back innings provided the spark the Rebels needed on Saturday as No. 17 Ole Miss (28-12, 9-8 SEC) rallied to defeat Tennessee (17-20, 5-12 SEC) with a 6-4 win.
The win gave the Rebels the weekend series as Will Jamison and Sikes Orvis hit lead off home runs in the seventh and eighth as Ole Miss rallied for the win. Jamison’s solo shot in the seventh, the first of his career, tied the game at three before Orvis would put the Rebels in front for good with his solo shot to open the eighth.
Jamison helped pace the Rebel offense with an RBI-triple to go along with his game-tying home run as the sophomore outfielder went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. He was one of five players with multiple-hits on the afternoon for Ole Miss.
Matt Denny (1-0) picked up the relief win, striking out Will Maddox in the seventh to end the inning and keep the game tied at three before Orvis would hit his go-ahead home run to start the next inning. Denny entered the game with two outs on the board and two on base in a 3-3 game in the seventh.
Brett Huber then picked up his ninth save of the season, closing out the ninth inning to preserve the win.
“I’m really proud of the team today for hanging in there and continuing to battle throughout the game,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “You need everyone in the SEC to win games and that proved out today as our nine-hole hitter essentially won the game for us with an RBI triple and a home run.
“I’m really proud of our guys on the mound today,” Bianco said. “Mike Mayers did what we needed from him and continued to battle even though he could have hung his head a little. The other guys came out of the bullpen and made pitches when we needed them and gave us the chance to take the lead and grab the win.”
SUNDAY: No. 17 OLE MISS 4, TENNESSEE 3
KNOXVILLE, Miss. – The Rebels pulled out the rally caps on Sunday and executed to perfection to apply pressure to the Volunteers as No. 17 Ole Miss (29-12, 10-8 SEC) put together a three-run ninth inning to defeat Tennessee (17-21, 5-13 SEC) by a score of 4-3.
The win completed a series sweep of the Volunteers and gave Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco his 500th win as the Rebel skipper and 600th win overall as a head coach.
Trailing by two runs heading into the ninth, the Rebels put together the rally with clutch performances from the heart of the batting order and some key at bats off the bench.
“It was a solid effort throughout the lineup today,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “It’s nice to come back and get the win with a rally like that in the ninth inning, but it all started with some great at bats by several different guys. We really got some good swings and executed on the things we asked them to do and it put some pressure on Tennessee. Sam Smith gave us a good outing in the start and the guys out of the bullpen really battled for us today. (Zack) Godley was really solid for them on the mound for them today.
“It feels good to get the 500th win at Ole Miss, but it’s really something that so many people have been a part of through the years,” Bianco said. “There are so many different players and coaches over the last 13 years who have had a hand in getting to this point. It’s really nice to get to this point and it wouldn’t have been possible without all of those guys being a part of the program over the years.”
Stuart Turner and Andrew Mistone started things off with a double and a walk before the Rebels would turn to the bench. Pinch runner Cameron Dishon replaced Turner at second and Christian Helsel stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter.
Helsel then lay down a perfect bunt in a sacrifice attempt, but the Vols pitcher threw the ball away at third trying to record an out of Dishon. The speedy freshman then scampered home to score while Mistone and Helsel went to second and third on the play.
A groundout to short from Preston Overbey brought Mistone home to tie the game while Helsel moved to third. Ole Miss then took the lead when Will Allen drove a ball deep to right center to score Helsel and put the Rebels on top 4-3.
Tanner Bailey (3-1) picked up the relief win, allowing one run on two hits in 1.1 innings of work. He was one of four Rebel pitchers to see action on the afternoon. Brett Huber picked up his 10th save of the season, entering the game to start the ninth and retiring three straight batters to close out the game.
Tennessee starter Zack Godley (3-5) took the loss for the Vols despite a solid outing that saw the right-hander allow four runs, but only one earned, in his complete-game performance. He struck out seven while walking two and allowing six hits on the afternoon.
It marks the second straight series sweep for Ole Miss who also swept the Crimson Tide last weekend in Oxford.
Ole Miss will return to action on Tuesday night, closing out a six-game road trip with a contest at Arkansas State. The game with the Red Wolves will begin at 6:30 p.m.
