Feb. 29, 2012

Box Score | Game Highlights (Video)

OXFORD, Miss. - It wasn't a night with a lot of hits, but the Rebels got a lot of quality at bats and put together an efficient offensive performance as No. 16 Ole Miss (7-1) defeated Jackson State (3-5) by a score of 13-1 Wednesday.

The Rebels scored the 13 runs on eight hits, including a three-run home run from Zach Kirksey and a two-run home run from Kody Sepulveda. Ole Miss drew 13 walks and had three hit batters as a part of the offensive outburst.

Josh Laxer (1-0) picked up his first win in a predetermined start, working 4.0 innings and allowing one run on five hits with a strikeout. Four other pitchers saw their first action of the season as Tanner Bailey, Hawtin Buchanan, Jon Andy Scott and Aaron Greenwood all pitched in the win.

Quintavious Drains (1-2) suffered the loss for Jackson State, allowing three runs on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Drains gave up a three-run shot to Zach Kirksey in the second inning and the Rebels never trailed in the game.

"I thought it was a really well played and clean game by us," said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. "A lot of guys got in or the first time either this season or in their careers.  Usually when that happens there are some good and some bad, but there was a lot of good tonight.  The pitchers that got to throw did well.  

"Jackson State really came out and swung, and Josh Laxer really fought hard." Bianco continued. "After him all the guys that came in, Bailey, Buchanan, Scott and Greenwood really worked ahead in their counts, threw strikes and did what they were supposed to do. We had some great at-bats. Sepulveda was catching in the bullpen all night and we called him in and he took off his stuff and had a great cut for a home run. It was a good night by us."

The Rebels struck first with the three-run shot from Kirksey that scored Matt Snyder and Andrew Mistone.

Jackson State answered with a single run in the third. Sergio Parra opened the inning with a single to right field before moving to second on a passed ball. He took third on a sac bunt from Gabriel Babineaux, then scored on a double to left center from Glenn Walker to cut the lead to 3-1.

It was all Rebels from there as the home team scored in the final four innings to reach the final 13-1 margin of victory.

Ole Miss sent 10 men to the plate in the fifth inning and scored four runs, before adding three runs in the sixth while sending nine men to the plate.

A single run in the seventh inning made it 11-1 before the Sepulveda home run in the eighth set the score at 13-1.

Ole Miss will return to action this weekend, hosting Miami (Ohio) in a three-game set at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field. Friday's contest is set for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch, while Saturday's game will start at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday is set for a 1:30 p.m. start.