The Grambling State baseball team suffered 15-2, 7-3, and 6-1 losses to No. 13 Ole Miss in a three-game weekend series.
GSU played a double header Sunday (March 13) due to rain storms that pounded northern Louisiana and Mississippi, leaving 1.33 inches of rain in Oxford Friday and Saturday, causing the postponement of Saturday night’s scheduled game and forcing a doubleheader Sunday.
JOSHUA McCOY/Ole Miss Athletics
Pitcher Caleb Nunez throws a fast pitch to an Ole Miss batter during one of the weekend games.
Friday night Ole Miss (15-1) pitcher Brady Bramlett had 11 strikeouts, and Ole Miss took GSU down 15-2 at Swayze Field.
In the second game, and the first of Sunday’s doubleheader at the University of Mississippi’s Swayze Field, Grambling State got off to a strong start.
Darien “Speedy” Brown laid down a squeeze bunt and used his speed to get on base. With runners on first and second base, Rebels pitcher Chad Smith bulked, Wesley Drain and Brown advanced an extra base. Trey Bell stepped up with a RBI single.
With the bases loaded Brown stole home, and Grambling State led 2-0.
Ole Miss settled down, scoring the next seven runs, enough to win the game.
Colby Bortles’ bat was still hot from Friday’s win, going 2-for-3, including a solo home run into left field. Ryan Olenek homered once.
GSU out hit the Rebels 9-8, with bases loaded in the second and sixth innings Ole Miss pitching and defense showed why they are one of the best ball clubs in the country.
Wyatt Short closed the game for the Rebels, allowing zero runs and one hit as he faced five batters.
With the bases loaded in the sixth, Bell stepped up again with a RBI single to center, Daniel Barnett scored.
Johan Mojica hit a pop fly, and he was ahead in the count 3-0. Pinch hitter Andres Castillo went down swinging, and Malcom Boyce. Short earned both strikeouts in his relief efforts.
In the second of Sunday’s double header, GSU third baseman Daniel Barnett scooped up a ground ball and fired it to second baseman Larry Barraza for the third out of the third inning.
Barnett then cruised to second base after he crushed the baseball down the third baseline.
Barnett advanced to third after a while pitch and Tray Bell brought Barnett home with a sacrifice fly ball. Barnett scored the lone Tigers run.
In the fourth Barnett made a catch in foul territory, then squeezed the gap and threw a dart two the second baseman Larry Barraza for the force out. In the fifth he showed his patience in the batter’s box, facing a 3-2 count Barnett took the pitch and earned a walk.