The media release is below, and you can read the what happened there if you're a masochist. I don't have a lot of thoughts right now because, frankly, tomorrow is a tremendous swing game, and the outcome of Sunday will set my opinion for the next two weeks.
Ole Miss has been outclassed, outplayed and out-competed for two straight days by a surging South Carolina team. The pitching has been miserable, and Ryan Rolison and Brady Feigl's flaws have been in full focus at Founders Park. Rolison has struggled with fastball command this season, and that was in abundance Friday. Feigl has had a penchant in his career to let innings spiral, and Carolina put up a three spot and a five spot Saturday against him. The Gamecocks have scored at least three runs in 5 of their 16 offensive innings to this point. SC was 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Pitches to get off the field aren't happening.
The defense hasn't been great either, especially Friday, but the pitching is setting the tone. It's setting it for the offense, too, because games are getting out of hand so early that Carolina hasn't had to throw many high-stress pitches -- maybe zero -- and hasn't had to put in important relievers with any adversity. Credit to the Ole Miss offense for the five-run inning, but it didn't reach the point of worry for the Gamecocks.
Six runs on 10 hits is a good day at the park for an offense, but the pitching rendered it irrelevant.
Ryan Olenek continued his hit streak.
Greer Holston allowed five of 10 batters to reach base including four hits. I expected more of a progression from him, and that hasn't consistently happened this season.
Let's all talk after the game tomorrow. That's when it's time to sort this out. It's the kind of swing game that will determine future expectations. Ole Miss is battling itself more than other SEC teams at this point.
Media release:
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Ole Miss rallied late in South Carolina, but the comeback fell short as the Rebels fell 11-6 to clinch just their third series defeat of the season, all of which have come on the road in SEC play.
Grae Kessinger homered and Tim Rowe doubled as part of a huge eighth-inning rally, but it was simply too late to complete the comeback.
Brady Feigl started strong on the hill for Ole Miss, striking out five of his first seven batters. However, South Carolina plated three runs in the third and five more in the fourth to break the game open.
Will Golsan drove home the Rebels’ first run on a single deep into the hole to the South Carolina shortstop in the fourth. Ryan Olenek doubled in the fifth to take his SEC-leading hitting streak to 22 games.
The Gamecocks tacked on two more runs in the fifth to take a commanding 10-1 advantage. The score stayed there until three straight singles by Cole Zabowski, Golsan and Tyler Keenan set the stage for the Rebels’ biggest inning of the afternoon.
After a pitching change came Rowe’s RBI double. Jacob Adams nearly continued the rally with a single through the right side but was robbed of a base hit on a diving play by the Gamecock second baseman. Kessinger followed Adams’ RBI groundout with a deep home run to left center to cut the deficit to four, but the Rebels couldn’t sustain the rally after that.
Ole Miss will look to take one for the road in Game 3, which is set for an 11 a.m. CT first pitch and will air on SEC Network.
Quick Hits
- Ryan Olenek extended his hitting streak to 22 games, the longest active streak in the SEC.
- Grae Kessinger had another multi-hit game to continue an outstanding week. He’s 7-for-13 this week with five runs scored, 3 RBI, a double and two home runs.
- Cole Zabowski continued his strong series in Columbia. He’s 4-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored in the last two games.
- Will Golsan turned in a 2-for-4 afternoon with an RBI and a run scored.
- Tim Rowe came through with a pinch-hit RBI double in the eighth inning. He has six doubles in his last six games.
- Houston Roth was excellent in relief for Ole Miss, allowing just two baserunners and no runs in two innings. Roth last pitched on April 10 but has been out with a hamstring injury.
- Ole Miss falls to 35-13 overall and 12-11 in SEC play.
Box Score: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...o_pdf/2017-18/box_score/stats_20180506aaa.pdf
Ole Miss has been outclassed, outplayed and out-competed for two straight days by a surging South Carolina team. The pitching has been miserable, and Ryan Rolison and Brady Feigl's flaws have been in full focus at Founders Park. Rolison has struggled with fastball command this season, and that was in abundance Friday. Feigl has had a penchant in his career to let innings spiral, and Carolina put up a three spot and a five spot Saturday against him. The Gamecocks have scored at least three runs in 5 of their 16 offensive innings to this point. SC was 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Pitches to get off the field aren't happening.
The defense hasn't been great either, especially Friday, but the pitching is setting the tone. It's setting it for the offense, too, because games are getting out of hand so early that Carolina hasn't had to throw many high-stress pitches -- maybe zero -- and hasn't had to put in important relievers with any adversity. Credit to the Ole Miss offense for the five-run inning, but it didn't reach the point of worry for the Gamecocks.
Six runs on 10 hits is a good day at the park for an offense, but the pitching rendered it irrelevant.
Ryan Olenek continued his hit streak.
Greer Holston allowed five of 10 batters to reach base including four hits. I expected more of a progression from him, and that hasn't consistently happened this season.
Let's all talk after the game tomorrow. That's when it's time to sort this out. It's the kind of swing game that will determine future expectations. Ole Miss is battling itself more than other SEC teams at this point.
Media release:
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Ole Miss rallied late in South Carolina, but the comeback fell short as the Rebels fell 11-6 to clinch just their third series defeat of the season, all of which have come on the road in SEC play.
Grae Kessinger homered and Tim Rowe doubled as part of a huge eighth-inning rally, but it was simply too late to complete the comeback.
Brady Feigl started strong on the hill for Ole Miss, striking out five of his first seven batters. However, South Carolina plated three runs in the third and five more in the fourth to break the game open.
Will Golsan drove home the Rebels’ first run on a single deep into the hole to the South Carolina shortstop in the fourth. Ryan Olenek doubled in the fifth to take his SEC-leading hitting streak to 22 games.
The Gamecocks tacked on two more runs in the fifth to take a commanding 10-1 advantage. The score stayed there until three straight singles by Cole Zabowski, Golsan and Tyler Keenan set the stage for the Rebels’ biggest inning of the afternoon.
After a pitching change came Rowe’s RBI double. Jacob Adams nearly continued the rally with a single through the right side but was robbed of a base hit on a diving play by the Gamecock second baseman. Kessinger followed Adams’ RBI groundout with a deep home run to left center to cut the deficit to four, but the Rebels couldn’t sustain the rally after that.
Ole Miss will look to take one for the road in Game 3, which is set for an 11 a.m. CT first pitch and will air on SEC Network.
Quick Hits
- Ryan Olenek extended his hitting streak to 22 games, the longest active streak in the SEC.
- Grae Kessinger had another multi-hit game to continue an outstanding week. He’s 7-for-13 this week with five runs scored, 3 RBI, a double and two home runs.
- Cole Zabowski continued his strong series in Columbia. He’s 4-for-7 with an RBI and a run scored in the last two games.
- Will Golsan turned in a 2-for-4 afternoon with an RBI and a run scored.
- Tim Rowe came through with a pinch-hit RBI double in the eighth inning. He has six doubles in his last six games.
- Houston Roth was excellent in relief for Ole Miss, allowing just two baserunners and no runs in two innings. Roth last pitched on April 10 but has been out with a hamstring injury.
- Ole Miss falls to 35-13 overall and 12-11 in SEC play.
Box Score: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...o_pdf/2017-18/box_score/stats_20180506aaa.pdf
