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There’s no other way to put it. Friday night was ugly. Ryan Rolison, the staff ace, didn’t really look like one, the defense and base running were bad, and there was a DISASTER inning that ultimately doomed the good guys, losing 8-6 in their Southeastern Conference opener.
Adversity. Outside of game one against Long Beach State a few weeks ago, this Ole Miss (19-2, 2-1) team hasn’t seen it much at all in 2018. But, it came quick, fast, and in a hurry this weekend. And the Rebs were able to do what good teams do.
Respond.
Brady Feigl was spectacular on Saturday, so was James McArthur on Sunday, and the bats were incredible once again. So good, in fact, they outscored the Vols (13-8, 1-2) by a whopping 16-1 after their six-run seventh inning on Friday against Rolison and Will Ethridge. And don’t even get me started on Parker Caracci, we’ll get to him in a moment.
Brady Feigl is making a case to be the ace.
Torch was brilliant once again this weekend. The reigning NCBWA Pitcher of the Month dominated the Vol hitters who pounded out eight runs against Rolison on Friday night. Feigl only yielded one run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out nine (one off career high), and walked no one. But it’s not just statistics, the man looks confident and on a daggum mission. His demeanor on the bump has been sinister and downright evil thus far.
Parker Caracci has some records in sight.
It’s early, I get it. But, Karate Kid is downright dominant right now. Ole Miss has had some really, really good relievers in the Mike Bianco era. But, Caracci has been silly good in first year in a uniform. He took over for James McArthur in the 7th inning and never looked back. He struck out six of the nine batters he faced in Sunday’s finale. That now runs his total up to 26 strikeouts and only one walk this season. That’s a sparkling 19 strikeouts per nine innings.
Jacob Adams is emerging at the right time.
After starting short stop Grae Kessinger tweaked a hamstring on Saturday, Jacob Adams was thrust into the starting role at second seemingly after Anthony Servideo assumed the position vacated by Grae Cub. Now, one would imagine that Be Kind Rewind and Conway will be the duo up the middle and the timing is seamless because Twitty is starting to see it really well at the plate. Adams, a JUCO transfer, had himself a damn field day with Tennessee pitching this weekend, hitting at a .600 clip, slapping a dinger, and collecting six runs batted in. Mike Bianco really needs him to swing a hot bat to replace Kessinger (.375), the team’s leading hitter.