‘It’s not one guy’: Spiraling Ole Miss baseball keeps finding a new rock bottom
Ole Miss baseball keeps finding a new rock bottom.
The Rebels on Friday extended their recent run of misery with an embarrassing, 8-0 loss to in-state rival Mississippi State. Ole Miss has dropped eight games in a row.
Another win for the Bulldogs over either of the next two days would secure them their 10th straight series win over the Rebels. Ole Miss is 18-16 (3-10 SEC) overall. Mississippi State improved to 22-12 (7-6).
“We’ve just got to play better,” Ole Miss starting pitcher and team captain Riley Maddox said. “We just came out flat tonight and never really got it going. Hats off to their guy; he pitched well. But we’ve got to play better collectively. Everywhere.”
Maddox was strong through five innings. However, the Bulldogs got to him and the Rebel bullpen with a seven-run sixth. Included was a two-run Dakota Jordan home run off Maddox.
“We’ve got to keep a little more composure and not blow up and show some more toughness,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. “That was disappointing — not just Riley, but everybody. Blew up that inning and basically the ballgame.”
Ten-pitch first inning for @riley_maddox1
SEC Network pic.twitter.com/7Sr20llsMl
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 13, 2024
Ole Miss, meanwhile, had just three hits and five baserunners all night.
The Rebels used four pitchers, while MSU starter Khal Stephen went 8.0 complete. He struck out nine and gave up three hits and no walks.
“We just got dominated by the fastball,” Bianco said. “I don’t ever remember getting dominated like that. You could tell it was a tough night for us offensively.”
The teams meet again Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 — hours after Ole Miss football closes out spring practices with the rebranded ‘Grove Bowl Games.’
“Show up tomorrow ready to play,” Maddox said. “We don’t have to lose tomorrow just ‘cause we lost today. Show up tomorrow and get a win.”
“It’s not one guy,” Bianco said. “But that’s what happens when you’re not playing well. You got out and compete and it’s close and then something doesn’t go your way and you get punched in the gut. You’ve got to be tough enough to handle it. That’s what the good teams do.”
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