LIVE UPDATES: Ole Miss Looks To Clinch Opening Series vs. Delaware
OXFORD, Miss. -- The No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels started their 2023 season with a win on Friday night, and they look to capture a series win on Saturday against the Delaware Blue Hens.
The Rebels saw five innings from starting pitcher Hunter Elliott followed by four scoreless from the bullpen on Friday night, and the offense put in its work too, hitting four home runs en route to an 11-2 win.
Follow along below for live updates between the Rebels and Blue Hens on Saturday.
Pregame
Head coach Mike Bianco has released his starting lineup for Saturday with a few notable changes on the docket.
Freshman right hander Grayson Saunier will take the hill for Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon. Will Furniss, who hit a towering home run late in Friday's game, takes the designated hitter role, and centerfielder Ethan Groff shifts to the leadoff spot.
In uniform news, the Rebels are in navy hats with red bills, red jerseys and white pants for Saturday afternoon's showdown. Delaware is taking the field in blue hats and jerseys paired with gray pants.
First Inning
Grayson Saunier works a swinging strikeout with a 95 MPH fastball, and we're underway at Swayze Field.
Another strikeout and a popout, and Delaware goes quietly.
MID 1: Ole Miss 0, Delaware 0
Groff draws a leadoff walk, and Gonzalez strikes out swinging with a full count.
Alderman walks, and the LF loses a ball from Harris in the sun, scoring Groff. UM 1, UD 0
Ethan Lege hits a sac fly, scoring Kemp Alderman. UM 2, UD 0
Calarco hits an RBI single, scoring Harris. UM 3, UD 0
After McCants walks, Furniss flies out to deep center.
END 1: Ole Miss 3, Delaware 0
Second Inning
Saunier issues a leadoff walk.
He works around the walk and puts the Blue Hens down without allowing a run.
MID 2: Ole Miss 3, Delaware 0
Jacob Gonzalez with an RBI single to extend the Rebels lead. UM 4, UD 0
The Blue Hens are making a pitching change with two on and two outs in the inning. LHP Carter Welch enters the game.
END 2: Ole Miss 4, Delaware 0
Third Inning
Saunier issues a leadoff walk and strikes out the next two.
He follows that with another walk. A fly out ends the frame.
MID 3: Ole Miss 4, Delaware 0
Nothing going for the Rebels in the bottom half.
END 3: Ole Miss 4, Delaware 0
Fourth Inning
Saunier issues his fourth walk of the game with one out, and Bianco is out to chat.
A bloop single is Delaware's first hit of the day. Two runners on with one out.
Saunier works around the jam with two fly outs.
MID 4: Ole Miss 4, Delaware 0
Chatagnier singles, but a double play and fly out end the Rebel threat.
END 4: Ole Miss 4, Delaware 0
Fifth Inning
Freshman righty Sam Tookoian is now on the mound for Ole Miss.
Tookian gives up a single, but Delaware gets nothing else in the inning.
MID 5: Ole Miss 4, Delaware 0
An error with two outs puts Lege on, but a groundout ends the inning.
END 5: Ole Miss 4, Delaware 0
Sixth Inning
Delaware opens the inning with a leadoff double down the first base line.
Tookoian issues a walk after the double. Two on with no outs in the inning.
With two outs in the inning, Jackson Kimbrell enters the game on the mound. After giving up a walk to load the bases, Jack Dougherty enters the game.
Dougherty gets a strikeout to keep Delaware off the board.
MID 6: Ole Miss 4, Delaware 0
Ethan Groff drives home Peyton Chatagnier from second with two outs, and the Rebels extend their lead. UM 5, UD 0
Gonzalez strikes out to end the inning.
END 6: Ole Miss 5, Delaware 0
Seventh Inning
Dougherty works a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
MID 7: Ole Miss 5, Delaware 0
A single and an error put Rebels on first and second with no outs.
Judd Utermark hits a three-run blast, and the Rebels extend their lead. UM 8, UD 0
A double from TJ McCants brings up Tywone Malone.
Malone pops out, McCants advances to third on an errant throw, and Chatagnier walks. Both runners advance to scoring position after a wild pitch.
Ethan Groff lines out to end the inning.
END 7: Ole Miss 8, Delaware 0
Eighth Inning
The Blue Hens go down quietly in the eighth.
MID 8: Ole Miss 8, Delaware 0
With the bases loaded and one out, Delaware is making a pitching change. The 10-run rule is in effect for Saturday's game, so two more runs from the Rebels would end this one in the eighth.
Garrett Wood with a single to end the game.
FINAL: Ole Miss 10, Delaware 0
You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie.
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