Holt Perdzock steals home on a wild pitch Friday against Florida International University.
Ole Miss opened up the 2016 season with a series sweep of Florida International. The Rebels scored 32 runs on opening weekend, including 13 first inning runs combined in the three games. The 32 runs were the most scored in an opening series since scoring 32 against Louisiana-Monroe in 2010.
Offensive MVP: Tate Blackman – After a frustrating freshman campaign, Blackman responded in a big way on opening weekend. The sophomore second baseman hit a homerun in his first at bat of the season, as he connected on a fastball that sailed over the fence in left-center field.
“It felt good. After last year, just coming out and he gave me a good pitch, and I got it up there in the wind,” Blackman said of the home run.
Blackman went 6-10 from the plate in the three games, including a double, and 6 RBIs on the weekend.
“Last year, so much was put on him, and it’s a very humbling game, and very humbling league that we play in. I’m so proud of the way he’s handled it,” head coach Mike Bianco said of Blackman. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen somebody handle it like Tate. Just a big smile on his face, a lot of energy, and again, great to see him get off to a good start.”
Blackman came into the 2015 season as a highly touted freshmen, after suffering a leg injury in high school. Blackman hit just .197, but it appears that Blackman has regained his confidence after his first weekend performance.
“I’m so proud of Tate,” junior pitcher Brady Bramlett said. “I can’t tell you enough how proud I am of him with the way he played and swung the bat tonight. It really speaks highly of his character and his work ethic from last year to this year. He came out here to prove a point.”
Pitcher of the Week: Brady Bramlett
Bramlett was the only returning weekend starter to the Rebel rotation this year, and that experience showed in his performance Friday. Bramlett went five innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one hit and one walk in 17 batters faced. Bramlett also recorded six strikeouts on the afternoon. Bramlett probably could have gone deeper in the game, but his pitch count got up, and he did not pitch all fall.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better night tonight,” Bramlett said. “I felt great off the mound, and just to have that offense behind me, it makes it a lot easier.”
After a successful 2015 stint following an arm injury during the 2013 season, Bramlett was able to start off the 2016 campaign as the Rebels ace with a solid performance, and a spike in velocity on his fastball.
“He was able to really locate the ball on both sides of the plate with his fastball,” Bianco said. “I thought his velocity was good early. He threw a bunch of balls in the 90s.”
Analysis:
Opening weekend went like most expected. The offense was the bright spot of the weekend hitting .295 and tallying 11 extra base hits. The Rebels were able to jump out to quick leads in all three games as they scored first inning runs each contest this weekend. All nine starters got hits in game three and Ole Miss compiled 28 total hits on the weekend.
The pitching, though again like most expected, still has a few question marks. Bramlett looked sharp on Friday. Chad Smith and Sean Johnson had their moments on Saturday and Sunday, but both struggled finding the strike zone at times, and were searching for command of their fastball. A lot of that is due to the nerves that come with pitching at the D1 level for the first time. It’s a very small sample size and there was nothing overly-concerning to note between the two.
Ole Miss ran a number of new arms out of the bullpen this weekend, and for the most part, the pen pitched well. Newcomers Andy Pagnozzi, Brady Feigl, David Parkinson and Dallas Woolfolk were particularly impressive in the series.
After a midweek battle with Arkansas State on Tuesday, Ole Miss will get its first real test when second-ranked Louisville comes to Oxford next weekend.
NOTES:
Errol Robinson was scratched from Sunday’s lineup due to a finger infection. Bianco did not seem to think the injury was serious, and Robinson likely won’t miss an extended amount of time. The injury broke a streak of 94 consecutive games started for Robinson.
Wyatt Short picked up his first save of the year with a six out appearance in Saturday’s win
Mike Bianco said freshman James McArthur will get the start Tuesday against Arkansas State. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
