Mississippi pitcher releases the ball during Friday’s game against Wright State in Oxford, Miss. (DM Photo | Jason Zhang)
Game 1 – Ole Miss 10, Wright State 3
The Rebels took game one of the series against Wright State in cold and rainy conditions Friday.
Junior left-hander Christian Trent took the mound for Ole Miss and recorded a career-high nine strikeouts on his way to improving to 2-0 on the season. He went six innings before being relieved. Trent is now 11-0 for his career with the Rebels.
“This is one of those days where it’s tough to play. It’s tough to pitch. It takes a lot of feel and touch when it’s raining the whole day, and it’s very cold. (Trent) pitched terrific,” Rebels head coach Mike Bianco said. “If you didn’t know the weather, you would be surprised by the way he pitched. He made it look that easy.”
After falling behind 1-0, the Rebels notched two runs in the fourth and four in the fifth. Wright State closed the lead with two runs in the eighth inning to make it 8-3 Ole Miss. The Rebels responded with two of their own in the bottom of the eighth after an RBI triple by Henri Lartigue to make the final score 10-3 Ole Miss.
Sikes Orvis led the way with three hits and five RBI’s, including launching his first home run of the year in the seventh inning.
“Being a power hitter, the first home run is always the big one, and I finally got that one off my back,” Orvis said.
The middle of the lineup carried the Rebels as the three through six hitters in the lineup combined for seven hits and nine RBIs in the game.
Game 2 – Wright State 3, Ole Miss 1
Ole Miss dropped a 3-1 decision to Wright State in game one of a double header on Sunday.
Sophomore starting pitcher Brady Bramlett took the hill for the Rebels and was phenomenal from the start. After striking out the side in the first inning, he went on to strikeout 11 batters in six innings of work. Bramlett had great command allowing only one hit and walking just one batter. He frequently turned to his fastball en route to recording a career high in strikeouts. Bianco described Bramlett’s fastball as “ heavy” and like “catching a shot-put“ when it goes into catcher’s mitt.
After missing the entire 2014 season, Bramlett has gotten off to a fast start in 2015.
“I knew coming back in I had a lot to prove. There was a lot of pressure, but I knew that it would be a special year for not only myself but the team,” Bramlett said after the loss.
Bramlett’s strong outing went to waste after Wright State third baseman Gabe Snyder launched a three-run shot off Rebels senior reliever Scott Weathersby in the 7th inning. The homer was enough to secure the victory for the Raiders.
Wright State got a strong outing of their own from junior right hander Jesse Scholtens. After scoring eight runs in game one, Scholtens kept the Rebel bats in check, allowing just one unearned run on four hits in six innings of work.
The Rebels got their only run on a throwing error in the 5th inning that scored senior first baseman Sikes Orvis after he doubled to left-center field.
Wright State won the game despite being hit by Rebels 5-4 in a pitchers duel and tied tied the series at one.
Game 3 – Ole Miss 3, Wright State 2
Ole Miss won a nail-biting 3-2 matchup in a seven-inning rubber game of the series against Wright State.
Senior right-hander Sam Smith was on the mound for the Rebels going three and two-thirds innings giving up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Smith threw just 49 pitches before Wyatt Short came on in relief in the fourth. Short got the Rebels out of a bases loaded jam and pitched the game’s final three and one third innings allowing no runs on three hits.
The Rebels got two runs in the third inning to go up 2-1. Wright State answered with a run in the fourth. The Rebels broke the tie with an RBI double in the fifth inning by sophomore outfielder J.B. Woodman that proved to be the difference in the game.
After a sluggish start to the season, freshman second baseman Tate Blackman recorded his first hit of the year in the first game of the double header and followed it up with a double in the final game of the series.
“When came, it was just off my back, over with, and I can just play my game and play baseball,” Blackman said after his performance.
Wright State did not go down quietly at the end. The Raiders had the bases loaded with one out in the seventh inning. Sophomore shortstop Errol Robinson caught a hard line drive headed towards left field and then flipped the ball over to Blackman to double off the runner at second ending the game.
“Getting a win in this third game was important to us,” Robinson said. “We fought so hard all through the game and even last game, and it just feels so good to come out victorious.”
The win gave the Rebels return to action against Arkansas State at 4 p.m Tuesday at home.
