Ole Miss Crushes UT Martin

Fresh off an emotional series sweep of nationally-ranked TCU, the Rebels came out with energy on Wednesday night and pounded out 18 hits to push to victory as No. 8 Ole Miss (4-0) defeated Tennessee-Martin (0-5) by a score of 15-2.

Every Rebel starter notched a hit with six players delivering multiple-hits and the Rebels put at least two runs on the board in each scoring inning on the way to the win.

“I’m proud of the way we played tonight; the guys really locked in,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “We tried to challenge them the best that we could, during pregame and in our meetings that you have to be ready tonight. It was about playing well, and we played about as well as you can play. I’m proud of the way a lot of guys took their appearance as an Ole Miss Rebel, either at the plate or on the mound.”

Sam Smith (1-0) picked up the win in his first outing of the season, working 3.0 scoreless innings and allowing one hit with one walk and three strikeouts. He was one of six pitchers to see action, including season debuts by Matt Denny, Hawtin Buchanan, Brady Bramlett and Austin Blunt.

Carter Smith (0-2) suffered the loss for the Skyhawks, allowing eight runs on 10  hits as one of four pitchers to take the mound for UT-Martin.

The Rebels got things started with two runs in the first inning with back-to-back singles from Tanner Mathis and Austin Anderson before Auston Bousfield delivered the third consecutive hit to drive in Mathis. Will Allen then delivered the fourth hit of the inning to push a second run home and Ole Miss was off to the races.

The Rebels plated two more runs in the second inning before breaking things open in the third with a seven-run inning. Three-straight singles loaded the bases to set up a three-RBI double to left center from Andrew Mistone. Ole Miss would add four more runs from there, sending 11 batters to the plate in total during the inning.

Two more runs in the fifth on a single from Jake Overbey and a sac fly from Bousfield extended the lead to 13-0.

The Skyhawks got on the board in the sixth inning, plating two runs off a double from pinch hitter Kenny King and single from first baseman Wade Collins. It was the only runs UT-Martin would muster on the night.

The Rebels pushed the lead back out to 13 and the final score of 15-2 with a two-run seventh inning. A pair of errors put Preston Overbey and Cameron Dishon on base and Holt Perdzock came through with double to left center to drive them home.

Ole Miss will return to action on Friday, kicking off a three-game series against Rhode Island at 4 p.m. at Oxford University Stadium/Swayze Field. It will be Bobby Wahl poster night at the stadium as the Rebels take on the Rams in the series opener.

#8 Ole Miss 15, UT-Martin 2 (Feb 20, 2013 at Oxford, Miss.)
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UT-Martin……….. 000 002 000  –  2  5  4      (0-5)
Ole Miss………… 227 020 20X  – 15 18  0      (4-0)
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Pitchers: UT-Martin – SMITH, Carter; ROSS, Chris(3); MILLER, Cody(5); WILSON, Nick(8) and BREWER, Ben; ERIE, Drew. Ole Miss – Sam Smith; Matt Denny(4); Hawtin Buchanan(6); Brady Bramlett(7); Austin Blunt(8); Scott Weathersby(9) and Will Allen; Austin Knight.
Win-Sam Smith(1-0)  Loss-SMITH, Carter(0-2)  T-2:45  A-6155
Weather: 36, Fair, Wind ENE 11 mph
SMITH faced 4 batters in the 3rd.

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