Three Observations From Rebels' Doubleheader Split vs. Hawaii

The Ole Miss Rebels won and lost via the longball on Saturday.

The Ole Miss Rebels played two baseball games on Saturday and split the doubleheader, picking up a 5-2 win and suffering a 9-1 loss. 

A couple of new bats helped the Rebels in the first game, but a rough outing by Grayson Saunier proved costly in Game 3 of the series. Here are three takeaways from Saturday's action.

Ole Miss Athletics

A Senior Bat Lifts the Rebels in Game 1

Bo Gatlin's three-run bomb provided run support in the early innings. Gatlin got an at-bat in Friday's game, hitting a long fly ball to the warning track. 

On Saturday, he powered one over the wall to help the Rebs hang a crooked number in the second. Gatlin could be a guy who can give you pinch-hit opportunities off the bench come conference play. The more guys off the bench that you trust can get the job done, the better. 

Fischer Gets on the Board

Andrew Fischer hit his first home run for the Rebels on Saturday, coming in the third inning of the first game of the doubleheader. The Rebels will need his bat come conference play, and as he gets more at-bats, the better he and the rest of the Rebel lineup will be come that time of year. 

Rebels Drop Game 2 of Saturday Doubleheader vs. Hawaii

Saunier Gets Touched Up in First Outing 

Grayson Saunier saw his first action on Saturday, and it wasn't what we all expected. Saunier went 3.2 innings with five strikeouts and four earned runs in his first outing of the year. Those four runs helped the Rainbow Warriors to take full control of the seven-inning contest. 

Rebel fans should not be disappointed in the effort of this squad thus far. This team has traveled far and played a 13-inning game on Friday and showed up at the ballpark and split a doubleheader. If this series tells you anything about this year's squad, it is that they will not lay down when adversity is in the way of a win. These games in Hawaii will help in the long and crucial parts of this season.