No. 13 Ole Miss smacks five jacks in rout of UAPB

OXFORD, Ms.- Ole Miss opened Tuesday night’s non-conference game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff with three runs in the fifth inning and eight more in the sixth and went on to an 11-1 win in seven innings.

The Rebels (15-6) and Golden Lions (8-12) were locked in a 0-0 game when Jacob Gonzalez sent a two-run home run over the wall in right-center, followed by a solo shot out of the park. left field for a 3-0 Ole Miss lead after five complete.

After UAPB got a run in the top of the sixth, the Rebels unloaded with eight more in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, TJ McCants homered, followed by a double by Will Furniss and a Garrett Wood walk. Wood, the team captain, has earned the start at third base for this game. Ethan Groff then launched one over the wall for a 7-1 Rebel lead.

After the second out in the bottom of the sixth, Gonzalez doubled, followed by an RBI single to Kemp Alderman to make it 8-1. Anthony Calarco walked, then Peyton Chatagnier homered for an 11-1 Ole Miss lead.

Rebel reliever Jordan Vera (1-1) earned the win, pitching 2.1 innings with one earned run on two hits with a strikeout. Starter JT Quinn went three innings with three hits and three strikeouts. Mitch Murrell and Brayden Jones also saw time on the mound.

Reliever Peyton Niemann (0-1) took the loss for UAPB, while Golden Lions starter Jacob Ehling went four solid innings, allowing four hits, a walk, and a strikeout.

Chatagnier led the Rebel offense with a 3-for-4 night and three RBI. Groff had two hits, three RBI and two walks, while Gonzalez and Alderman each had two hits and two RBI.

Ole Miss returns to Southeastern Conference action with a three-game set in Oxford against Florida beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.