Recap -- #2 Ole Miss vs. #4 CSU Bakersfield (Los Angeles, CA Regional)

Rebels' Building Year Comes to an End

Errol Robinson Settling After a Hit

The Ole Miss Rebel Baseball Team's season came to an end in Saturday's low-scoring showdown. One swing of the bat by CSU Bakersfield's Soloman Williams was the difference in the game. Both teams recorded 7 hits, but Ole Miss was not able to come through with runners on base while tallying 1 hit in that regard. Sophomore Errol Robinson was Ole Miss' biggest threat, and he tallied the Rebels' only run. He went 3-4 with a double to lead Ole Miss. He was about all Ole Miss had today. Defensively, Redshirt Sophomore Brady Bramlett(7-4) pitched a good 7.0 innings, allowed two runs on seven hits, struck out five, and walked one. "I thought Brady (Bramlett) was terrific. The truth of the matter is, he didn't make one mistake, I made one mistake. We tried to sneak a fastball into (Soloman) Williams and obviously he got all of it and really, that was the baseball game." says Coach Mike Bianco postgame. 5 seniors played their final games with the Rebels and those include Scott Ashford, Austin Knight, Sikes Orvis, Sam Smith, and Scott Weathersby. Many say this was Mike Bianco's best year of coaching in his career at Ole Miss, for he did very much with the little talent and experience he had been given. Having been 16-18 to being a two seed in a Regional is quite good in my opinion. In my opinion, this was a building year, and it was a fine building year. FINAL: Ole Miss 1, CSU Bakersfield 2. Hotty Toddy, and ON TO FOOTBALL SEASON, RebelNation! 

Post-Spring Preview of Ole Miss Football

Can Expectations Come Reality?

Robert Nkemdiche(Left) and Laquon Treadwell(Right) on the Front Page of Athlon Sports

This season, Ole Miss seems to have its most complete team in awhile. High expectations become higher after having seen Mel Kiper, Jr.'s 2016 Mock Draft. He has Junior OL Laremy Tunsil going 2nd, Junior DT Robert Nkemdiche going 4th, Junior WR Laquon Treadwell going 7th, and Junior S Tony Conner going 20th. All four players topped the 2013 insane recruiting class. Although most mock drafts do not end up completely true, this prediction puts added pressure on this team this season. When you have three top ten players and four top twenty player on your roster, you should be winning many games. If the "football gods", as Neal McCready would say, came down and gave Hugh Freeze 8-4 or maybe even 9-3, he probably would not take it. This statement may seem a little crazy, but I believe if you have four early first-round caliber players, National Championship should be on your mind. No, I'm not saying that Ole Miss should or will go to the CFB Playoff, but it could certainly happen. In my opinion, a sub double-digit record is not a success. A 10-2 regular season record sound about right, for the Rebels have to visit the State of Alabama twice: at Alabama, at Auburn. Having said that, neither of those teams are much better(if any better) than Ole Miss, but home field advantage is everything. If Ole Miss fixes the OL health issue and find a QB that will benefit the team most, I would keep some big things in mind for this season, Rebel Nation.

Egg Bowl Baseball RECAP

Ole Miss Completes 3-Sport Sweep on State

Showers in Right Field After a Sikes Orvis HR.

Game 1

In game one, it was Errol Robinson's night. He drove in a career-high 3 runs, all of which were with 2 outs, including what would be a game-winning run in the 8th inning. Junior LHP Christian Trent(7-5) gave up three runs -- two earned -- in eight innings of work. "It was a good night all around," Trent said. "The offense was good. I felt great out there, and the defense was good again. It's good to come out on top against the rival, especially in the first game." This win improves the Rebels' record to 26-24(12-13 SEC). The bulldogs would drop below .500 to 24-25(8-17 SEC). FINAL: Ole Miss 4, MSU 3.

Game 2

This game, however, belongs to Sikes Orvis. He may look like a 45 year old man, but he can smack some dingers. A six-run first inning surely helped the Rebels to victory, but Mississippi State got theirs as well. The pitching was not all that great to say the LEAST. 23 combined runs will tell that story. Brady Bramlett(6-3), Ole Miss' consistent Saturday starter, pitched 6.0 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits and picking up his sixth victory of the season. All Ole Miss starters had at least one hit, and the Rebels stayed hot with runners in scoring position, going 7-12. "We were aggressive," Orvis said. "We took the first punch and brought the fight to them, which is what you want out of your offense. We wanted to come out and put runs up, and we did a good job of doing that tonight." FINAL: Ole Miss 13, MSU 10.

Game 3

Ole Miss' final game drought was looking as if it were continuing. State took a 5-0 lead in the 4th inning, and the Rebels looked as if they were folding. They were not. This game also belongs to Sikes Orvis, who hit 2 solo home runs by the 6th inning. Senior Scott Weathersby had an awful day, but every pitcher has his fair share of those. It would not matter. The score was 7-2(State) heading into B9, and #RebsBSB was looking for a rally. It started out with a Sikes Orvis single adding to his spectacular weekend, and there was no looking back. With #DucksOnThePond and 1 out, Errol Robinson singled through the 4 hole, and that would make the score 7-4. After a big hit by Colby Bortles, the game was tied. Yes, the game was tied. 7-7. We headed to extras. After State had gotten nothing from the top of the 10th, Ole Miss would just continue with their hot bat. DH Freshman Nic Perkins was hitting around .410, and he was up with Tate Blackman on third base(winning run). He hit a chopper into left field, and THE REBELS WON IT. "I knew it was getting through at contact" exclaimed Perkins. This win gave Ole Miss its first major three sport sweep(Football, Basketball, and Baseball) since 1972. 7-0 against those guys. Sounds good doesn't it? This win brought Ole Miss' record to 28-24(14-13 SEC). Not only have the Rebels clinched a spot in the SEC Tournament, this sweep brings Ole Miss' tourney chances even closer to reality. Ole Miss' RPI is now 33, and a #1 SOS(Strength of Schedule) will not hurt. Hotty Toddy.
Next Game: @Arkansas State, Tuesday, May 12, 6:30 PM CT. Not televised.