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The Rebels started their five game road trip in Hattiesburg and silenced a record-setting crowd at Pete Taylor Park for a good bit of the game thanks to some solid pitching, defensive plays and a pair of homers in the fourth inning. As a result, despite some late ninth inning drama, Ole Miss held on and knocked off No. 14 Southern Miss 4-1 on Wednesday.
Ole Miss racked up a total of seven hits from seven different batters. However, Kemp Alderman and Kevin Graham both got their hits off the long ball while Tim Elko had an RBI single to give his team a three-run advantage down the stretch. Drew McDaniel once again made the midweek start and despite giving up Southern Miss' only run off an early home run, struck out eight batters and put his team's bullpen in a good position to keep the Golden Eagles down and eventually close the door. Jackson Kimbrell, Josh Mallitz and Brandon Johnson all made an appearance out of the bullpen, with Johnson getting his seventh save of the season afterwards.
The Rebels will now be on their way to Baton Rouge for a three-game weekend series against the LSU Tigers starting Friday. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on ESPN2 or listened to on the Ole Miss Radio Network. Inside The Rebels will be available to provide updates, notes, facts, observations and more.
The fourth inning was big not just offensively, but on the mound as well. The Rebels went down early thanks to a solo home run in the second by Christopher Sargent, but would eventually take the lead in the fourth. After a groundout to second, Jacob Gonzalez singled up the middle, setting Kevin Graham up with his third home run in two games, a two-run homer to right field to put Ole Miss in front 2-1. Right after that, Kemp Alderman hit a dinger of his own, a solo home run to left center to put the Rebels in front 3-1 just like that.
However, their lead would be threatened in the bottom half of the inning. After back-to-back strikeouts from Drew McDaniel, he gave up three consecutive free passes with two walks and hitting Rodrigo Montenegro with a pitch, loading the bases with two outs. McDaniel was able get out of the inning unharmed with a fly out to left that ended the inning.
Drew McDaniel went five innings for the second consecutive start and held his own at times. Early on, he retired the top of the USM order before giving up his only run on the Sargent homer in the second and getting through a one hit third inning. After the aforementioned dangerous fourth inning, a one-out double and stolen bases did not come back to bite him as a ground out to third ended the fifth.
Mike Bianco on making big plays defensively...
"We've made good plays defensively. In conference, I think we're .978. We've had some dumb errors like the one we had today... Tonight, good plays by Tim Elko and Justin Bench. We've seen more of that the past few weeks. That's what we've talked about. I know we said that after Sunday's game and I know it sounds like coach speak, but it's the truth, you have to make the play that will get you off the field. Not just a two-hopper, grounder - throw to first, it's a play that makes a difference. We've made more of those.
Mike Bianco on Drew McDaniel past few games...
"Just a good mix, filling up the strike zone. He's always had really good stuff. It's just being about to put himself in good counts and not letting the inning get away from him... he made some pitches to get off the field and we need that. That's big. This is a tough place to play."
Top 1st: Ole Miss 0, USM 0
Justin Bench started things off with a leadoff, 1-2 pitch single, but a Jacob Gonzalez double play ball two pitches later nullified that. USM pitcher Matthew Adams struck out Tim Elko to end the opening frame.
Bottom 1st: Ole Miss 0, USM 0
Drew McDaniel went out to the mound and took care of Gabe Montenegro and Dustin Dickerson with a line out and fly out. McDaniel struck out Will McGillis to end the inning.
Top 2nd: Ole Miss 0, USM 0
Kevin Graham fell behind in the count early and ended up grounding to short. Matthew Adams then struck out Kemp Alderman, before TJ McCants popped up to short to keep the game moving.
Bottom 2nd: USM 1, Ole Miss 0
Four pitches in Christopher Sargent gave USM first blood by crushing a solo leadoff homer to left field. Tim Elko then made a great line out catch for the first out, before Drew McDaniel struck out Danny Lynch on an 0-2 pitch. However, Rodrigo Montenegro kept the inning going with a single up the middle, before Drew McDaniel stopped the bleeding with a strikeout of Carson Paetow.
Top 3rd: USM 1, Ole Miss 0
John Kramer started the inning with a first pitch line out to first before Matthew Adams struck out Peyton Chatagnier. A groundout by Dunhurst ended the inning.
Bottom 3rd: USM 1, Ole Miss 0
Drew McDaniel struck out Charlie Fischer with a nasty pitch, before Gabe Montenegro flew out to left. Dustin Dickerson hit another USM two-out single right after. McDaniel stranded another Golden Eagle on base with a 1-2 pitch strikeout of Will McGillis.
Top 4th: Ole Miss 3, USM 1
Back at the top of the order, Justin Bench started the inning with a grounder to second. Then, Jacob Gonzalez ended Matthew Adams' hot streak with a single up the middle. Adams responded with another strikeout of Tim Elko, before Kevin Graham gave the Rebs the lead with a two-run homer to right. Right after that, Kemp Alderman hit a homer of his own to make it a two-run game. Matthew Adams then walked TJ McCants, before being replaced by Justin Storm out of the Golden Eagle bullpen. Gabe Montenegro made an outstanding center field catch to stop the bleeding.
Bottom 4th: Ole Miss 3, USM 1
Drew McDaniel got his sixth strikeout of the game with a K to Christopher Sargent. McDaniel got Slade Wilks swinging as well, before walking Danny Lynch. McDaniel gave another free pass by hitting Rodrigo Montenegro with a pitch on the foot. On a 3-1 pitch, McDaniel walked Carson Paetow as well, loading the bases for Charlie Fischer. However, the Golden Eagles failed to capitalize with Fischer flying out to left.
Top 5th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1
After much debate, Peyton Chatagnier's hit down the left field line was ruled as a leadoff double, as a result of an overturned call that was originally called a foul ball. Justin Storm then struck out Calvin Harris, before hitting Justin Bench with a pitch. A wild pitch moved Chatagnier and Bench into scoring position. Jacob Gonzalez then reached on a fielder's choice, with Chatagnier getting called out at home plate. That ended Justin Storm's evening and Tyler Stuart came out of the USM bullpen. Tim Elko capitalized with an RBI single to score Bench. Kevin Graham grounded out to third for the third out.
Bottom 5th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1
Drew McDaniel returned to the mound to retire Gabe Montenegro covering the bag at first on a grounder to Tim Elko at first. Then, Dustin Dickerson doubled to right center field. With action in the bullpen, McDaniel struck out Will McGillis for the second out. Dickerson stole third base, but Justin Bench took a slow roller to short and completed the throw to Tim Elko in time for the third out.
Top 6th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1
Kemp Alderman grounded to short on the first pitch he saw, before TJ McCants flew out to center a pitch later. John Kramer walked, but Tyler Stuart got out of the inning after Peyton Chatagnier flew out to center field.
Bottom 6th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1 (in progress)
Jackson Kimbrell replaced Drew McDaniel on the mound to start the sixth for the Rebels. Kimbrell beaned Slade Wilks with a pitch to start things off. Danny Lynch popped up first base side for the first out and Kimbrell struck out Rodrigo Montenegro for the second out. Justin Bench made an over-the-shoulder catch third base side to end the inning.
Top 7th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1
Chandler Best started the seventh out of the USM bullpen. Calvin Harris flew out second base side before Justin Bench struck out. Jacob Gonzalez grounded out to first unassisted to complete a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 7th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1
Jackson Kimbrell returned to the mound and struck out leadoff man Charlie Fischer. Gabe Montenegro grounded out right to Tim Elko at first before Bianco went out to the mound to replace Jackson Kimbrell with Josh Mallitz. Not long after, a grounder to second ended the inning.
Top 8th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1
The Golden Eagles made yet another pitching change with Isaiah Rhodes start the eighth inning. Leadoff hitter Tim Elko grounded out to third while Kevin Graham flew out to left for two outs. A pitch after that, Rhodes hit Kemp Alderman, but TJ McCants struck out to strand Alderman on base.
Bottom 8th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1
Pitching continued to be solid for Ole Miss and Josh Mallitz retired Will McGillis and Chris Sargent. However, down to his final strike, Slade Wilks swung, but the ball got away from Hayden Dunhurst and a throwing error to first allowed Wilks to run all the way to third. Josh Mallitz got out of the inning anyways with a strikeout.
Top 9th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1
Garrett Ramsey started the ninth on the mound in order to give his team a chance late by keeping Ole Miss from pulling away. Calvin Harris was able to get an infield single, but that was all for the Rebels. Southern Miss was down to their final three outs.
Bottom 9th: Ole Miss 4, USM 1
Brandon Johnson was brought in to deliver the final three outs and did so to complete the midweek, road upset despite some late drama. Johnson stranded two on base with a pop up to second.
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