Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons Shines In Home Baseball Debut

Austin Simmons delivered one quality inning for the Ole Miss Rebels in Sunday's win over High Point.

Austin Simmons might eventually be tossing touchdowns for Ole Miss football under Lane Kiffin, but right now, he's hurling fastballs on the mound at Swayze Field. 

Simmons, a highly-touted pitcher, made his Rebels home debut in Sunday's 25-2 victory over High Point. Coming from the pen, Simmons allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout in one inning pitched. 

He also covered an inning in last weekend’s season-opening split in Hawaii. Following Sunday's victory, Simmons has a 4.50 ERA. 

The Rebels, who improved to .500 following their series victory over the Panthers, totaled 16 hits, including five home runs, to secure the victory. They walked a program-record 19 times and allowed just six hits behind four shutout innings from right-hander Grayson Saunier. 

"I felt great," Saunier said. "I felt like I competed pretty well. I just have to keep doing that."

Simmons joined the Rebels' baseball squad as an early enrollee after taking dual credit classes at Moore Haven (Florida) High School. As a quarterback, the 17-year-old standout threw for 3,161 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2022.

On the basepaths, Simmons hit .365 and drove in 16 runs in baseball. He was 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA and totaled 78 strikeouts. 

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The Rebels return to Swayze Field for two midweek games against Little Rock and Missouri State before their three-game series with Iowa. First pitch against the Trojans is scheduled for Tuesday at 4 p.m. Game 2 against the Grizzles will take place at 4 p.m. Wednesday.