Baseball: #4 Ole Miss vs. Minnesota

[Cianne]

It's opening weekend for the Rebels in Oxford where they'll host Minnesota. They played Minnesota up in the Metrodome last year for a short spring tournament and played well against the Gophers. It was also Zach Miller's coming out party where he showed he can be an everyday contributor later on in the season.

Minnesota was picked to finished third in the Big Ten in what is generally a lackluster baseball conference with only Michigan being the big power despite Ohio State having a pretty decent team itself.

Pitching Matchups

Friday
Minn: Tom Buske RHP 6-1 185, 5-2, 3.43
UM: Lance Lynn RHP 6-5 260, 8-5, 2.65

Saturday
Minn: Kyle Carr LHP 6-5 200, 5-2, 3.95
UM: Cody Satterwhite RHP 6-4 205, 4-4, 3.31

Sunday
Minn: Dustin Brabender RHP 6-7 220, 5-1, 4.40
UM: Nathan Baker LHP 6-3 205, 6-2 3.92

I have no idea what the lineup is going to be for Minnesota but for the Rebels, it will be:

C: Brett Basham R/R 6-2 200, .206 avg, 1 HR, 24 RBI
1B: Matt Smith R/R 6-3 205, Redshirted
2B: Zach Miller R/R 5-7 175, .368 avg, 4 HR, 31 RBI
SS: Evan Button L/R 6-0 180, .278 avg, 3 HR, 15 RBI
3B: Cody Overbeck R/R 6-1 195, .288 avg, 14 HR, 58 RBI
LF: Logan Power R/R 5-11 195, .292 avg, 11 HR, 51 RBI
CF: Michael Hubbard L/L 5-10 180, .375 avg, 21 HR, 86 RBI (UA-Ft. Smith )
RF: Jordan Henry L/R 6-0 175, .376 avg, 1 HR, 17 RBI
DH: Michael Guerrero R/R 5-11 187, .375 avg, 11 HR, 47 RBI (Meridian CC)

I have no idea what the batting order might be at this point, but I can make a guess that will be nowhere near close.

1. Jordan Henry
2. Zach Miller
3. Michael Hubbard
4. Cody Overbeck
5. Logan Power
6. Evan Button
7. Matt Smith
8. Michael Guerrero
9. Brett Basham

I'm sure I'll find out around Thursday how close I was. I'm pretty sure though that I got Henry, Overbeck, and Basham right. Also, I'd imagine that Hubbard and Guerrero will be interchangeable in the OF while you may eventually see Fuller Smith be the DH against LHPs since he seemed to hit them better than RHPs if I recall. Also I'd imagine that Kyle Mills will get some late inning at b

[OleMissPike]

It's opening weekend for the Rebels in Oxford where they'll host Minnesota. They played Minnesota up in the Metrodome last year for a short spring tournament and played well against the Gophers. It was also Zach Miller's coming out party where he showed he can be an everyday contributor later on in the season.

Minnesota was picked to finished third in the Big Ten in what is generally a lackluster baseball conference with only Michigan being the big power despite Ohio State having a pretty decent team itself.

Pitching Matchups

Friday
Minn: Tom Buske RHP 6-1 185, 5-2, 3.43
UM: Lance Lynn RHP 6-5 260, 8-5, 2.65

Saturday
Minn: Kyle Carr LHP 6-5 200, 5-2, 3.95
UM: Cody Satterwhite RHP 6-4 205, 4-4, 3.31

Sunday
Minn: Dustin Brabender RHP 6-7 220, 5-1, 4.40
UM: Nathan Baker LHP 6-3 205, 6-2 3.92

I have no idea what the lineup is going to be for Minnesota but for the Rebels, it will be:

C: Brett Basham R/R 6-2 200, .206 avg, 1 HR, 24 RBI
1B: Matt Smith R/R 6-3 205, Redshirted
2B: Zach Miller R/R 5-7 175, .368 avg, 4 HR, 31 RBI
SS: Evan Button L/R 6-0 180, .278 avg, 3 HR, 15 RBI
3B: Cody Overbeck R/R 6-1 195, .288 avg, 14 HR, 58 RBI
LF: Logan Power R/R 5-11 195, .292 avg, 11 HR, 51 RBI
CF: Michael Hubbard L/L 5-10 180, .375 avg, 21 HR, 86 RBI (UA-Ft. Smith )
RF: Jordan Henry L/R 6-0 175, .376 avg, 1 HR, 17 RBI
DH: Michael Guerrero R/R 5-11 187, .375 avg, 11 HR, 47 RBI (Meridian CC)

I have no idea what the batting order might be at this point, but I can make a guess that will be nowhere near close.

1. Jordan Henry
2. Zach Miller
3. Michael Hubbard
4. Cody Overbeck
5. Logan Power
6. Evan Button
7. Matt Smith
8. Michael Guerrero
9. Brett Basham

I'm sure I'll find out around Thursday how close I was. I'm pretty sure though that I got Henry, Overbeck, and Basham right. Also, I'd imagine that Hubbard and Guerrero will be interchangeable in the OF while you may eventually see Fuller Smith be the DH against LHPs since he seemed to hit them better than RHPs if I recall. Also I'd imagine that Kyle Mills will get some late inning at b

So the announced for sure Basham won the catcher spot? That was a great battle for a position, hopefully all the competition will make it a strong point.

[Cianne]

From what I've read and heard, Basham has the leg up due to being better defensively. Henson is better overall around the plate however so they may end up switching by the end of the year like Alex Kliman did.

[msgadawg]

Do you think yall will make it to Omaha? Seems that he does well then slides at the end with his teams in Oxford, Plus he always has Polk nipping at his heels. Long season , Sure it will be a wild ride.. When /Where do you play the Dawgs....

[Cianne]

The past three Super Regionals have been horrible for us. We get Texas the year they win the whole thing (and had them beat in two games but they dinked and dunked their way bunting to victory). We get Miami the next year which was playing fantastic baseball at the end of the year with some All-Americans in Yonder Alonso and Jemile Weeks. Then last year we have to go out to Arizona State's dump of a stadium where our pitching fell apart in the end (Will Kline never should have pitched that ninth inning).

This year is going to be interesting though. The pitching staff has more talent, in my opinion, than the 2005 group that had six pitchers go in the first seven rounds of the draft. The outfield should be the best in the SEC, if not the country, and Overbeck has been ripping the ball all fall and spring at the hot corner. The weaknesses are the batting in the nine hole which should fall to Brett Basham and the consistency in the middle infield where Evan Button will finally be starting at SS and Zach Miller will be trying to overcome a bad end of the year with the glove last year.

[Cianne]

Fantastic game for Lance Lynn. He struck out eight of the first nine which he set down in order. It's unfortunate he could only pitch five innings with his pinch count getting up due to the Gophers fouling everything off.

Friday

Ole Miss 8
Minnesota 1

Box Score (http://www.olemisssports.com/pdf7/111679.pdf?ATCLID=1395304&SPID=748&DB_OEM_ID=2600&SPSID=13045)

OXFORD, Miss. – Lance Lynn tied a career-high with 12 strikeouts, including the first eight batters he faced, as Ole Miss (1-0) struck out 21 total batters en route to an 8-1 win over Minnesota (0-1) on Friday.

The 21 strikeouts tied a single-game record for the Rebels. Ole Miss last struck out 21 batters in a game against Arizona on March 3, 2001 in a 17-inning game.

Lynn (1-0) picked up the win as he worked 5.0 scoreless innings and allowed only two hits with the 12 strikeouts. Scott Bittle also turned in 3.0 innings of work and allowed only one hit with seven strikeouts, while Justin Cryer closed out the final inning with two strikeouts and one hit. Cryer came on to relieve Matt Smith, who left the game with an injury in the top of the ninth.

Tom Buske (0-1) suffered the loss for the Golden Gophers as he allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work.

Michael Guerrero and Logan Power paced the Rebel offense as Guerrero went 2-for-5 at the plate with two RBI off a home run to left field, while Power went 2-for-4 with four RBI. Cody Overbeck and Jordan Henry also tallied two hits each.

The Rebels got on the board in the third inning when Logan Power came up with a bases loaded single through the left side with the bases loaded to score Jordan Henry and Michael Hubbard. Henry opened the inning with a single before stealing second. Overbeck was then hit by a pitch to load the bases before the Power hit.

Ole Miss added to the lead in the sixth inning with two more runs when Overbeck reached on a bases loaded fielder’s choice to short as the Golden Gophers erased the runner at second, but overthrew first base trying to turn a double play to allow two runs to score.

The eighth inning saw the Rebels add four more runs as back-to-back singles from Evan Button and Overbeck put runners at second and third before Power doubled to push the Ole Miss lead to six. Guerrero then homered to left field in the next at bat to give the Rebels eight runs.

Minnesota got on the board in the ninth as Mike Kvasnicka came up with a single down the left field line with two outs and runners at the corners. Both Minnesota base runners had been hit by pitch to reach base.

The Rebels and Golden Gophers will play the second game of the three-game set on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

[Cianne]

Huge game with the sticks for the Rebels. Cody Overbeck had two long balls and Brett Basham had a grand slam. Cody Satterwhite started out with a rough first inning with three walks and a HBP but settled down and shut down the Golden Gopher bats.

Saturday

Ole Miss 22
Minnesota 5

http://www.olemisssports.com/pdf4/111920.pdf?ATCLID=1396041&SPID=748&DB_OEM_ID=2600&SPSID=13045

OXFORD, Miss. – In control of the game early, Ole Miss (2-0) exploded with a 10-run fifth inning that was highlighted by a Brett Basham grand slam to power past Minnesota (0-2) by a score of 22-5 on Saturday at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

Leading 11-2 heading into the fifth inning, the Rebels exploded at the plate with Basham’s grand slam sandwiched between a pair of home runs from Cody Overbeck as the Rebels batted around and took the game firmly in hand.

Cody Satterwhite (1-0) picked up the win as he struck out three and walked three while allowing three hits and two unearned runs in his 5.0 innings on the mound.

Kyle Carr (0-1) suffered the loss for the Golden Gophers as he allowed seven runs on three hits with four walks and a strikeout in 2.0 innings on the mound. Only five of the seven runs were earned.

Overbeck paced the Rebels at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, including a pair of home runs, as he came up with four runs scored and four RBI.

The Rebels tallied 19 hits on the afternoon, including the three home runs.

“It was a good day today,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “We got a lot of hits, a lot of extra base hits and some big home runs. We really looked good and were a lot looser at the plate today.”

Minnesota threatened early, but Satterwhite and the Rebels got out of the jam with a play at the plate and a pair of strikeouts to end the threat by the Golden Gophers and keep the visitors off the board.

Ole Miss got on the board in the second inning when two runs scored off a fielding error at shortstop when Basham hit a sharp grounder that bounced off the glove of the defender to score both Logan Power and Evan Button. Power walked to lead off the inning before Button was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved into scoring position on a double steal before Basham put the ball in play two outs later to get the Rebels on the board.

Minnesota answered in the top of the third as back-to-back singles sandwiched around a stolen base put runners at second and third. The first run scored on a fielder’s choice back to the mound that saw Satterwhite throw to third and catch the base runner in a run down, but the throw home was wide and allowed the run to score and runners to move to second and third. The second run scored a batter later when Jeremy Chlan scored on a ground out to first. Both runs were unearned and the game was tied at two.

The Rebels pushed back into the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a six-run explosion sparked by a Zach Miller double to open the inning. A pair of walks to the next two batters loaded the bases and the Ole Miss offense took over from there.

Ole Miss would add three runs in the fourth off a base-clearing double from Fuller Smith before the 10-run outpouring in the fifth inning. The Rebels ended the scoring with a single run in the sixth inning for the final tally of 22 runs in the game.

Minnesota would plate three runs in the eighth inning for the final score of 22-5.

Ole Miss and Minnesota will close out the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

[SaveCol.Reb]

This game was way fun today. My favorite part was when Minnesota had to replace a pitcher they played the, "I had a bad day" song, or "I'm going home...", and even funnier "Another one bites the dust."

In all seriousness though I like sports that we win at. I think that we are gonna have a successful year.

[Cianne]

The big sticks were back on Sunday as the Rebels hammered out 15 runs. Nathan Baker pitched a fantastic game as did Jake Morgan, Drew Pomeranz, and Matt Tracy. The Golden Gophers only runs came in garbage time off Garrett Duff in his first work as a Rebel.

Sunday

Ole Miss 15
Minnesota 4

http://www.olemisssports.com/pdf7/112201.pdf?ATCLID=1396982&SPID=748&DB_OEM_ID=2600&SPSID=13045

OXFORD, Miss. – The Rebel offense continued to produce at the plate as No. 4 Ole Miss (3-0) pounded out 18 hits on the way to a 15-4 win over Minnesota (0-3) on Sunday to sweep the series.

The sweep was the first for the Rebels since the 2006 season when Ole Miss took a three-game set against the Tennessee Volunteers in Oxford at the end of April.

“It was a good day and a good finish to the weekend,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “We really wanted to focus on finishing strong and we came out today and did that.”

Sophomore Nathan Baker (1-0) picked up the win as he struck out five and allowed only two walks and three hits in 5.0 scoreless innings of work.

Dustin Brabender (0-1) took the loss for the Golden Gophers as he allowed six runs on six hits with five walks and two strikeouts in his 2.2 innings on the mound.

Zach Miller and Sean Stuyverson paced the Rebel offense as both players went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI. Brett Basham also went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI on a sacrifice fly, while Cody Overbeck produced another home run, this one a three-run shot to left center.

Ole Miss got things going early with a four run second inning as Ole Miss sent 10 batters to the plate. Logan Power opened things with a walk before four-singles and a sac fly in the next five at bats pushed four runners across the plate.

The Rebels would then go on to score in every remaining inning except the eighth on the way to the 15-4 win.

Minnesota fought back in the top of the ninth, pushing four runs across in the final frame including a two-out, three-run home run from Jason Macej, but the Rebels got the next batter to fly out to left field to squelch the Golden Gopher rally and claim the series.

The Rebel offense was solid on the weekend, putting 45 runs on the board off of 50 hits, including six home runs. Ole Miss’ pitching staff was equally impressive in the series as the Rebels held Minnesota to 10 runs and recorded 39 strikeouts in the three-game set.

Ole Miss will continue its 10-game home stand to open the season when the Rebels will host Northwestern State on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field. It is the first game in a two-game set against the Demons.

[Rebel Chuck]

What an amazing start!

[crawfish]

Congrats to the Rebels! What a weekend! Your're right, amazing....but really no surprise! Ole Miss is one team I expect can win it all this year. This could be the year for the Rebels IMO. The west in the SEC is going to be exciting to watch this year. I don't expect LSU to win the west, but I do expect them to be very improved and just might, with some breaks, compete for the second or third spot. But I hope I'm wrong, and this young LSU team blows everyone's mind and wins ahead of schedule. But at this point early on, I think it's Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Arkansas in the west driver's seat.