LIVE UPDATES: Ole Miss Hosts Delaware For Season Opener
OXFORD, Miss. -- Let the national championship defense begin.
The No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels play host to the Delaware Blue Hens this weekend in Oxford, taking the field for the first time since winning the 2022 national title in Omaha, Neb., last season. The Rebels enter the year a nearly-unanimous top 10 team despite losing a fair amount of production to the MLB Draft this summer.
LHP Hunter Elliott is the newly-christened ace of the Rebels rotation after serving as the No. 2 arm in last season's rotation as a true freshman. Elliott has earned numerous preseason honors entering the 2023 campaign, and he will get the ball to start game one between the Rebels and the Blue Hens.
Follow along below for live updates on Friday evening's contest.
Pregame
The Rebels will be wearing their white "script M" hats paired with navy jerseys and pinstriped pants on Friday. These navy jerseys were worn during last season's Omaha run.
This hat has been a rarity for Ole Miss since it debuted, but they will open the season in the lids on Friday. Also, head coach Mike Bianco released his starting lineup on Friday afternoon, and Jacob Gonzalez will lead off for the Rebels.
First Inning
Hunter Elliott strikes out the side, and the Blue Hens pose no threat in the first.
MID 1: Ole Miss 0, Delaware 0
Ethan Groff draws a walk for the first baserunner of the game. He is then picked off on a steal attempt.
Nothing else going for the Rebels in the first.
END 1: Ole Miss 0, Delaware 0
Second Inning
The Blue Hens are sat down in order.
MID 2: Ole Miss 0, Delaware 0
We have our first hit of the game, and it came from Calvin Harris with a leadoff single up the middle. Ethan Lege follows it with a double, and runners are at first and second with none down.
An infield hit scores Harris, and the Rebels are on the board first. UM 1, UD 0
First home run of the year comes from Peyton Chatagnier, and Ole Miss is up four. UM 4, UD 0
TJ McCants doubles, and the merry-go-round continues.
McCants scores on a groundout, Kemp Alderman doubles, scoring one, and Ole Miss extends its lead. UM 6, UD 0
Nothing else for the Rebels in the frame.
END 2: Ole Miss 6, Delaware 0
Third Inning
The Blue Hens go down in order, and the Rebels take their lead into the bottom half.
MID 3: Ole Miss 6, Delaware 0
A sacrifice fly scores Ethan Lege, and the Rebels add on. UM 7, UD 0
Delaware is making a pitching change with two outs in the inning and a runner on first. RHP Joey Silan is into the game.
Nothing else for the Rebels in the frame.
END 3: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 0
Fourth Inning
Delaware gets one back with a solo shot. UM 7, UD 1
The Blue Hens get a one-out single for their second hit of the day, and Elliott follows that by surrendering a walk with two outs.
A two-out single gives the Blue Hens another run. UM 7, UD 2
Elliott works out of the jam, but Delaware is on the board.
MID 4: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 2
Nothing going for the Rebels in the bottom half of the inning.
END 4: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 2
Fifth Inning
The Blue Hens are sat down in order in the fifth.
MID 5: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 2
Peyton Chatagnier singles, but nothing else comes for the Rebels in the fifth.
END 5: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 2
Sixth Inning
JT Quinn is now on the mound for the Rebels.
Delaware gets a runner on via a walk, but it fails to push anything across.
MID 6: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 2
Jacob Gonzalez walks, but he is caught stealing for the second out of the inning. Groff follows it with a fly out to retire the side.
END 6: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 2
Seventh Inning
Mitch Murrell is now on the mound for the Rebels.
The Blue Hens are retired in order.
MID 7: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 2
Ole Miss also goes down in order to end the seventh.
END 7: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 2
Eighth Inning
Murrell allows the first two runners on, but he gets out of the jam.
MID 8: Ole Miss 7, Delaware 2
TJ McCants hits a solo home run with two outs in the eighth. UM 8, UD 2
Will Furniss, pinch hitting for Burford, does the same. UM 9, UD 2
Ethan Groff hits a two-run blast, and Ole Miss now leads 11-2.
END 8: Ole Miss 11, Delaware 2
Ninth Inning
Matt Parenteau walks the first two batters he faces in the ninth.
FINAL: Ole Miss 11, Delaware 2
You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie.
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