Chad Smith sets a new career high for strike outs during the UAPB game. Photo by: Evan Turner
It’s been a year of ups and downs for Ole Miss pitcher Chad Smith, and Wednesday was certainly a high point as he struck out 11 Arkansas-Pine Bluff hitters, a new career high in that department, and picked up his fourth win of the year in a 12-1 rout of the Golden Lions.
“I was just able to command both my fastball and my slider,” Smith said. “I didn’t throw any change ups tonight, but I was able to work off of my fastball and slider and command them on both sides of the plate. It was a big confidence booster just seeing it translate with all the hard work I’ve put in in practice”
Smith’s command of his fastball has escaped him at times this year, but he was in full command of it on Wednesday.
“In this league you have to have fastball command to be successful, and recently when I have struggled, that’s been the issue for me,” Smith said. “I felt good the whole time.”
It was the first time Smith had gone seven innings since late February against Louisville, and his velocity was right there until the end.
“He was terrific,” Head Baseball Coach Mike Bianco said. “I don’t know if it was his best night, but it’s got to be up there. He was really strong, and even into 100 pitches he was throwing in the low 90s and had great stuff.”
Ole Miss scored 12 runs on 10 hits, and nine different Rebels recorded a hit on the night.
Sophomore Kyle Watson dives back into second base during the UAPB game. Photo by: Evan Turner
Kyle Watson and Errol Robinson each had two hits. Robinson had three RBIs and Watson had a pair.
“I tried to stay up the middle,” Watson said. “Coach Clement has really been working with me on keeping a short swing and staying up the middle of the field.”
Like Smith, Watson has had his share of highs and lows this year, and has been moved around the outfield a good bit. He even got an inning in a third base on the night.
“He’s never held his head down, and he’s just a great time guy and had a terrific athlete, and had a terrific night swinging the bat,” Bianco said.
J.B. Woodman and Will Golsan each had an RBI base knock as well.
After a scoreless first inning from Pine Bluff’s Humberto Medina, Ole Miss took control with three in the second, one in the third and added a pair in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead.
Pine Bluff added a run on a ground ball out in Smith’s final inning before Andrew Lowe tossed a scoreless final two innings of relief. Ole Miss added two more in the seventh and four in their final at bat in the eighth.
Junior Errol Robinson safely slides into home plate during the game against University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. Photo by: Evan Turner
The win was the Rebels’ 34th on the year.
“We’ve played well all year, and stumbled for about five games, but we recovered from that,” Bianco said. “I’m proud of the way we’ve played the last few weeks.”
The Rebels travel to Athens this weekend for a three game series at Georgia. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Friday.
