The Grove Report

Ole Miss Baseball Secures First SEC Series Victory Following Electric 8-7 Win vs. Georgia

The Rebels were in control for most of the game until things got interesting in the eighth inning on Sunday.

Ben King

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels picked up their first series victory of the season versus conference opponents when they beat the Georgia Bulldogs 8-7 on Sunday afternoon after a nail-biting final two innings.

Ole Miss got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a two-run bomb from third baseman Ethan Lege and then freshman RHP Greyson Saunier took over for a career-high six innings, only surrendering one run in the fourth inning. The best start of Saunier's young career ended with a final stat line of two hits, one ER, zero walks, and six strikeouts.

The Ole Miss bats added on two more runs in the fourth when shortstop Jacob Gonzalez sent a ball into right field, scoring himself and second baseman Peyton Chatagnier. Then two innings later, Chatagnier hit a solo shot into left center and the Rebels had secured a 5-1 lead. 

Saunier was replaced after the sixth inning by RHP Mason Nichols but the sophomore was quickly pulled by Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco after the Dogs scored a run on a fielding error. RHP Jack Dougherty was put in charge of putting out the Georgia comeback, but things got interesting for the junior in the eighth inning. The Dogs scored three runs in the top of the eighth, tying the game at five runs apiece. 

Ole Miss answered with two runs in the bottom half of the eighth thanks to two RBI singles from Lege and left fielder Kemp Alderman. The Rebs went into the ninth with a 7-5 lead and the Bulldogs managed to stay alive by adding two more runs in the top half of the final inning. 

The Rebels went into the bottom of the ninth with a chance to end the game and right fielder TJ McCants was ready to answer the call. McCants smacked an RBI single into left field which scored freshman Judd Utermark and gave Ole Miss the win.

Following their Sunday win over Georgia, the Rebels now own an overall record of 23-21 with a 5-16 record versus conference opponents. Ole Miss' next matchup on the docket is a midweek game with the Little Rock Trojans on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.

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Ben King
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