Video: Ole Miss Rolls over UAB, Moves to 16-1 Overall

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WCBI/Ole Miss Athletics) – The No. 8 Ole Miss baseball team increased its winning streak to 11 games with an 8-1 road victory over UAB Tuesday night at Regions Field. The Rebels (16-1) scored three runs in the first and never looked back, taking the first game of the midweek series against the Blazers (6-10).

Freshman Andy Pagnozzi (3-0) earned the win in just his second career start. The right-hander went a career-long 6.1 innings and allowed just one run on two hits. He also struck out four and did not issue a walk during his quality outing.

“Pagnozzi was really able to command the fastball and locate on both sides of the plate,” said head coach Mike Bianco. “I was proud of his composure and performance tonight. He’s been fantastic all season long.”

The Rebels scored eight runs on 13 hits, including five doubles and two home runs. Junior catcher Henri Lartigue went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, and senior Cameron Dishon hit his third home run of the season as part of a multi-hit night. Nine Rebels recorded at least one hit throughout the evening.

UAB starter Adam Lamar (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season. Lamar entered contest with a 0.96 ERA, allowing just two earned runs in 18.2 inning of work. However, the Rebels got three runs off the starter in the opening frame, and Lamar lasted just three innings. At the plate, Esteban Tresgallo and Holt Davis recorded four of the team’s five hits.

As they have done in over half of their games this season, the Rebels put runs on the board in the first inning. After Will Golsan and Errol Robinson drew back-to-back walks, J.B. Woodman singled to right field to load the bases for Colby Bortles. With three on and nobody out, the third baseman nearly cleared the bases with a blast to center field that hit off the wall. Golsan and Robinson rolled around to score on the deep double. Tate Blackman added a sacrifice fly, and just like that, Ole Miss claimed a 3-0 advantage.

While Pagnozzi allowed just one hit through the first three innings, Ole Miss added an insurance run with a solo homer by Dishon in the top of the fourth. The senior plated another run in the following inning. With the bases loaded, Dishon caught the UAB third baseman playing behind the bag and placed a perfect bunt down the line for an RBI single. Pagnozzi continued to keep the Blazers hitless for the next three innings as the Rebels remained out in front, 5-0.

After allowing a one-out single in the seventh, Pagnozzi’s night ended as Alabama native Brian Browning came out of the bullpen. A steal, a wild pitch and a groundout brought the Blazers’ first run across the plate. With runners on the corners and two out, David Parkinson entered the game and got a big strikeout to end the threat.

The Rebels got the run back in the top of the eighth as Dishon reached base for the third time with a leadoff walk. Golsan doubled to put two runners in scoring position, and Robinson’s flyball to center plated Dishon. One inning later, Lartigue belted a two-run shot to left, increasing the Ole Miss lead to seven. Parkinson and Matt Denny finished the game, keeping the UAB bats in-check to claim the 8-1 victory.

Ole Miss will look to sweep the midweek series with a win tomorrow morning. First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and can be heard on the Ole Miss IMG Sports Network. Freshman James McArthur will take the mound for the Rebels, going against UAB senior Stephen Baggett.

QUICK HITS

• Ole Miss scored in the first inning for the 10th time this season.
• The first inning is the Rebels’ most efficient inning in terms of runs, outscoring the opposition 29-6.
• With Cameron Dishon’s home run, the Rebels have homered in each of the past six games.
• Andy Pagnozzi pitched a career-long 6.1 innings to earn the win and improve to 3-0 this season.
• Henri Lartigue homered for the second time in his career, but his first from the right side of the plate.