Video: Rebels Roll on Opening Day 2016

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OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI/Ole Miss Athletics) – The No. 24 Ole Miss baseball team began the much anticipated 2016 on a picture perfect Friday afternoon, February 19. In front of an opening day record-setting crowd of 10,129, the Rebels cruised to a 9-2 win over Florida International at Swayze Field.

Ole Miss (1-0) continued its success in past season openers. Under head coach Mike Bianco, Ole Miss Baseball now holds a 15-1 record on opening day. The Rebels stepped out in front of 10,129 faithful fans, a number that topped the charts for opening day and marked the sixth largest crowd in Swayze Field history.

“When you play like we did today on opening day, you’re proud and you’re excited,” said head coach Mike Bianco. “(Brady) Bramlett really filled up the strike zone, and with a lot of good at bats and a lot of aggressive at-bats from our offense, it looked good on day one.”

Sophomore Tate Blackman and junior Errol Robinson added career firsts, Blackman with his first home run and Robinson with the first triple of his career. Blackman was a standout at the plate with two hits, two runs and two RBI. The Rebels ended the contest with a total of 10 hits and nine runs on the day.

Starting pitcher Brady Bramlett (1-0) struck out six FIU (0-1) batters and allowed just one hit in five innings. The junior started the evening for the Rebels and retired the first 11 FIU batters, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning.

Robinson stepped up to the plate for the first at-bat of the Rebels’ 2016 season and swung for a leadoff double. Junior J.B. Woodman followed with a single to left field, putting runners on the corners for the Rebels. Robinson crossed the plate and put Ole Miss on the board after a Colby Bortles’ RBI groundout.

Bramlett struck out four of the first batters through the first two innings. On the other side of the ball, the Rebel bats picked up heat in the bottom half of the frame. Blackman tore the cover off of the ball to belt his first career home run. The Rebels scored three more times in the second inning with Holt Perdzock, Connor Cloyd and Cameron Dishon each crossing the dish.

Up 5-0, Ole Miss retired the side once again and neither team added a run in the third. Robinson stepped up to the plate to lead off the fourth inning and kept the Rebels rolling with a triple. A sacrifice fly by Woodman sent Robinson across the plate to extend the Rebel lead to 6-0.

Following his homer, Blackman stepped in the box and hit a RBI double to center field with Will Golsan scoring the seventh run of the game. Freshman DJ Miller made his first appearance as a Rebel and singled to center field, advancing on the throw to second base. Kyle Watson then hit a RBI groundout to second to extend the Ole Miss lead. Miller later earned his first run as a Rebel after Dishon hit a sacrifice fly.

Freshman Andrew Lowe took to the mound, also making his first appearance as a Rebel. FIU was able to cut the 9-0 deficit in the sixth inning with two runs, both runs scored on a fielder’s choice.

Sophomore David Parkinson threw 2.2 scoreless innings and freshman Dallas Woolfolk closed the game tossing a scoreless inning in his first appearance on the mound for Ole Miss. Woolkfolk sent the Panthers down in order to a end picturesque opening day with a 9-2 win over FIU.

Ole Miss will get right back to the field tomorrow afternoon, looking to clinch the series over FIU. First pitch from Swayze Field is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT on SECN+.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Largest opening day crowd and sixth largest in Swayze Field history, totaling 10,129 fans.
• Rebels improve to 15-1 on opening day under head coach Mike Bianco.
• Tate Blackman belted his first career home run.
• Errol Robinson recorded the first triple of his career.
• Brady Bramlett retired the first 11 batters he faced in tonight’s season opener.
• Three freshmen Andrew Lowe, DJ Miller and Dallas Woolfolk made their first appearances as Rebels.
• Former Rebel and current pro Christian Trent threw out the ceremonial first pitch.