Video: Ole Miss Powers Past Memphis at AutoZone Park

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WCBI/Ole Miss Athletics) – Three home runs combined with a masterful performance by freshman starting pitcher James McArthur led No. 14 Ole Miss to a 7-0 victory over Memphis Tuesday evening at AutoZone Park. McArthur pitched a career-high seven scoreless innings, while the Rebel bats did the rest to earn the midweek victory.

Will Golsan and Michael Fitzsimmons hit back-to-back homers as part of a four-run sixth inning. It was the third home run this season by each Rebel as the duo became the first Ole Miss sluggers to go back-to-back since Sikes Orvis and Colby Bortles accomplished the feat versus UT Martin, April 15, 2015. Colby Bortles also left the yard in the eighth inning for his fourth home run of the season. Along with the three homers, the Rebels (27-10) racked up 10 hits throughout the night. Bortles, Errol Robinson and J.B. Woodman also recorded two hits apiece.

(Photo Courtesy: Ole Miss Athletics, Josh McCoy)

McArthur (5-0) tied his career high with seven strikeouts to earn his fifth victory in his last six starts. The freshman allowed just four hits and two walks during the career-long outing of seven scoreless frames. The combination of McArthur and Brady Feigl gave Ole Miss its second consecutive shutout in the last two victories.

For Memphis (13-24), six Tigers recorded a hit. On the mound, starter Jonathan Bowlan (1-4) allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits through 6.0 innings.

Ole Miss took advantage of a Memphis miscue to plate the first run of the contest. In the top of the second, Golsan reached base on an error by the second baseman to keep the inning alive. After Fitzsimmons walked, DJ Miller smacked a hard single to left field that brought Golsan around third and into home for the freshman’s first career RBI. Following a pair of hits to begin the bottom half of the frame, McArthur prevented Memphis from scoring; the freshman recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat and keep the Rebels in front, 1-0.

With McArthur holding Memphis scoreless, the Rebels used the long ball to tally four runs in the sixth. Woodman singled and stole second base before scoring on a two-out single by Bortles. Golsan doubled the 2-0 advantage with a two-run blast to left field, and Fitzsimmons followed with a solo shot of his own. The back-to-back jacks completed the big inning and gave Ole Miss a 5-0 cushion.

McArthur finished out his phenomenal night by retiring eight of the final 11 batters he faced, putting together the longest outing of his Ole Miss career and placing seven zeroes in the Memphis scoring column.

In the eighth, Bortles’ home run cleared the Ole Miss bullpen in left center and increased the lead to six runs. As Feigl entered out of the bullpen, Memphis threatened to score for the first time. With two on and two outs, a single up the middle looked as if the hope of a shutout was all but lost; however, Woodman unleashed a cannon and nailed the runner at the plate to hold the score at 6-0.

Ole Miss added another run in the ninth, scoring on a passed ball. Feigl came back out to finish the game, sending Memphis down in order to preserve the shutout.

The Rebels will waste no time returning to the field, hosting Murray State tomorrow night (Wednesday, April 20) at Swayze Field. The midweek non-conference matchup will kick off a four-game homestand. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.

QUICK HITS

• The last two victories for Ole Miss have been shutouts.
• Freshman DJ Miller earned his first career RBI with a single in the second inning.
• Tate Blackman has reached base in 22 of the last 23 games as well as recorded at least one hit in 11 of the past 12 contests.
• James McArthur pitched a career-high seven scoreless innings and tied his career high in strikeouts with seven.
• McArthur is now 5-0 in his last six starts, allowing just one run in the last 23.0 innings.
• McArthur recorded the first successful pickoff of his career; Ole Miss has picked off runners in each of the last two games.
• Homers by Will Golsan and Michael Fitzsimmons in the sixth marked the first time the Rebels hit back-to-back home runs since Sikes Orvis and Colby Bortles accomplished the feat versus UT Martin (April 15, 2015).