Right Field Review - Week 13

Last week: 2-1

Overall: 35-17 (14-13)

Rankings
Baseball America: 21 (prev. 23)
USA Today Coaches Poll: 14 (prev. 20)
Perfect Game: 20 (prev. NR)

Results
May 10-12: vs #13 Mississippi State - W 3-0, W 10-8, L 7-6

Ole Miss 3, Mississippi State 0
A rain delay couldn't slow down the Rebels as they used an unorthodox pitching combination to be the first team to shut out State this season. After Bobby Wahl (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R) struck out the side in the top of the first Friday night, rain forced the suspension of the game and set up a double header for Saturday. Mike Mayers (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R) picked up where Wahl left off, pitching seven masterful "relief" innings to hold the Bulldogs off the board. Will Allen (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 HR) got things going offensively with a solo home run in the fifth inning. A bases loaded walk extended the lead in the fifth to 2-0 and sac-fly in the eighth from Austin Knight capped the scoring. Two walks from Brett Huber (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R) put the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth, but a missed questionable strike three call ended the threat and preserved the win.

Ole Miss 10, Mississippi State 8
The Rebel bats showed up in a big way, but shabby relief pitching kept thing interesting up until the last out. The Rebels entered the top of the ninth with a three run lead, and a walk and two quick outs from Tanner Bailey (2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R) looked to end things quietly. But back-to-back singles cut the lead to two and put two men on. A short line drive to center looked as if it would score the tying run, but a sliding catch from Auston Bousfield saved the day. It was part of a big day for Boz, who went 3-for-5 with five RBIs, three of which came on a triple in the first inning to give his team an early 3-0 lead. Despite getting into trouble in the first and third innings, Sam Smith (6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER) did a great job minimizing damage. The Rebel bullpen struggled mightily however, allowing five runs to score over the course of the last three innings.

Mississippi State 7, Ole Miss 6
After being handed a six-run lead, the Ole Miss pitching staff imploded to surrender seven unanswered runs and miss the sweep opportunity. Wahl (5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R), back on the hill after throwing one inning in Friday's rainout, cruised through the first five innings but ran into trouble when he loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth. Jeremy Massie (0.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R) would allow all three runs to score plus two of his own before Scott Weathersby (0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R) could finally cap the disastrous five-run frame. Weathersby then allowed two baserunners to reach with no outs in the seventh, and a two-out, two-RBI single to right off of Matt Denny (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R) completed the Bulldog comeback.

Numbers Game
- Sunday marked only the fourth time the Rebels have lost after scoring in the first inning. On the year they have outscored opponents 55-21 in the first inning and are now 17-4 when getting on the board in the opening frame.
- Though the Rebels rank in the bottom half of the SEC for in-conference batting average and total hits, they're still managing to reach base at an effective pace. Thanks in part to 100 walks and 27 hit-by-pitches, Ole Miss is fourth in the conference with a .343 OBP.
- Its been a rough stretch for the Rebel bullpen. Rebel relief pitchers have surrendered a lead in five of the past nine conference games and hold a 6.48 ERA in that stretch.

Past the Foul Pole
- State's Alex Detz was perhaps the ugliest opponent we've faced all season. He earned the nickname "Smeagle" from the right field haters.
- After struggling through the season with his new lame-ass walkout song, Will Allen returned to "Strong Tower" Saturday. In his second at-bat of the game, and with the praise hands in full force in right field, he belted a solo shot to give the Rebs the lead. Is that you God?
- Yellow Cup won all three races last weekend... but was disqualified for cheating each time. He (She? It?) got creative, coming out of a side gate, riding a bike, and catching a ride on a golf cart. Yellow finishes the 2013 campaign without a single victory. Better luck next year.

This Week
May 14: at Southern Miss
May 17-19: at #3 LSU