Texas A&M took the SEC West lead into the final weekend despite its pitching instead of because of it. The Aggies hit well enough and have a good offensive approach and that carries them through a rotating mix of arms that haven’t gelled this season.
On Friday, Ole Miss, the Ole Miss we expected to see for much of the year, exposed and exploited Texas A&M pitching, scoring in six of the first seven innings and hammering the Aggies, 14-6, to even the series. The rubber match and final game of the regular season is at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Ole Miss is 32-20 overall and 14-15 in the SEC after winning seven of its last eight. The Rebels’ RPI is 34 heading into Saturday.
Ole Miss can be the 7, 8, or 9 seed in the SEC Tournament.
The Rebels had 17 hits, six walks and a hit batsman during a terrific night offensively. The key actually started on Thursday as Ole Miss fought back enough in the loss to make the Aggies use key arms, and the Rebels had three three-run innings and two two-run innings in its eight offensive innings.
“After their first starter on Thursday, they’ve scuffled a bit, so we had to get him out of there, and we made relievers throw 30 to 40 pitches, and that led to a good offensive night tonight,” hitting coach Mike Clement said. “More than anything, you’re seeing quality at-bats up and down the lineup and stretched it out and what we hoped it would be. It makes us pretty dangerous.”
Jacob Gonzalez and Kevin Graham each had three hits, and Kemp Alderman had four RBIs. Alderman and Gonzalez hit home runs, and Alderman, Justin Bench and Hayden Leatherwood each had a double.
The Rebels were 12-for-29 with runners on base and 10-for-22 with runners in scoring position.
Tim Elko was the only starter without a hit, and during this recent run the Rebels have gotten a ton of production out of the bottom of the order. Hayden Dunhurst has five hits in the two games this series. Five different Rebels scored twice.
Hunter Elliott gave up three runs in the first and didn’t look sharp early with a velocity dip, but he threw up zeroes in the second, third and fourth to allow the Rebels to catch up and storm ahead. Ole Miss was up 8-3 when Elliott left on his 103rd pitch in the fifth inning. He uncharacteristically walked five and hit a batter but hung in there to limit the damage — except for a first-inning two-out single that scored two runs.
Josh Mallitz was excellent again in relief, scattering two hits and striking out four in 3.1 scoreless innings. His ERA is down to 1.77 on the season, he’s allowed an earned run in only two of 12 appearances in 2022. He’s struck out 30 in 20.1 innings. During this 8-1 run for the Rebels, Mallitz hasn’t allowed a run in seven innings across three appearances.
“He’s always had good stuff, but now he’s filling up the strike zone,” Clement said. “With (Riley) Maddox out, he’s filled that role. He’s hitting some 94 and 95s. He’s continued to come on.”
On Friday, Ole Miss, the Ole Miss we expected to see for much of the year, exposed and exploited Texas A&M pitching, scoring in six of the first seven innings and hammering the Aggies, 14-6, to even the series. The rubber match and final game of the regular season is at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Ole Miss is 32-20 overall and 14-15 in the SEC after winning seven of its last eight. The Rebels’ RPI is 34 heading into Saturday.
Ole Miss can be the 7, 8, or 9 seed in the SEC Tournament.
The Rebels had 17 hits, six walks and a hit batsman during a terrific night offensively. The key actually started on Thursday as Ole Miss fought back enough in the loss to make the Aggies use key arms, and the Rebels had three three-run innings and two two-run innings in its eight offensive innings.
“After their first starter on Thursday, they’ve scuffled a bit, so we had to get him out of there, and we made relievers throw 30 to 40 pitches, and that led to a good offensive night tonight,” hitting coach Mike Clement said. “More than anything, you’re seeing quality at-bats up and down the lineup and stretched it out and what we hoped it would be. It makes us pretty dangerous.”
Jacob Gonzalez and Kevin Graham each had three hits, and Kemp Alderman had four RBIs. Alderman and Gonzalez hit home runs, and Alderman, Justin Bench and Hayden Leatherwood each had a double.
The Rebels were 12-for-29 with runners on base and 10-for-22 with runners in scoring position.
Tim Elko was the only starter without a hit, and during this recent run the Rebels have gotten a ton of production out of the bottom of the order. Hayden Dunhurst has five hits in the two games this series. Five different Rebels scored twice.
Hunter Elliott gave up three runs in the first and didn’t look sharp early with a velocity dip, but he threw up zeroes in the second, third and fourth to allow the Rebels to catch up and storm ahead. Ole Miss was up 8-3 when Elliott left on his 103rd pitch in the fifth inning. He uncharacteristically walked five and hit a batter but hung in there to limit the damage — except for a first-inning two-out single that scored two runs.
Josh Mallitz was excellent again in relief, scattering two hits and striking out four in 3.1 scoreless innings. His ERA is down to 1.77 on the season, he’s allowed an earned run in only two of 12 appearances in 2022. He’s struck out 30 in 20.1 innings. During this 8-1 run for the Rebels, Mallitz hasn’t allowed a run in seven innings across three appearances.
“He’s always had good stuff, but now he’s filling up the strike zone,” Clement said. “With (Riley) Maddox out, he’s filled that role. He’s hitting some 94 and 95s. He’s continued to come on.”
