Mike Bianco might have hardly drawn up the opening weekend any higher.
After dropping Friday night time’s season opener, Ole Miss bounced again to knock off the nation’s No. 1 crew, Louisville, on each Saturday and Sunday to steal the sequence. It’s the fifth straight sequence win in Oxford for Ole Miss in opposition to the nation’s top-ranked crew.
So, what occurred and the way did the Rebels pull off the upset?
1. Anthony Servideo has a weekend to recollect
Ole Miss goes to must get numerous contribution from newcomers this season, but when they’re going to be a reputable risk, the names Insurgent followers already know are going to must be the important thing cogs within the wheel.
Anthony Servideo, again at shortstop in his junior 12 months, had a weekend to recollect in opposition to the very best crew within the nation. Servideo hit 5 for 10 on the weekend and drew three extra walks, an on-base-percentage of .643. When the Rebels wanted a jolt on Sunday, it was their shortstop offering a two-run blast over the best discipline wall to place the primary Ole Miss runs on the board.
2. Cael Baker turns into an Oxford fan favourite
The six-foot, 260-pound junior school switch is conscious of the Kenny Powers jokes that circulated the web on Saturday after he virtually singlehandedly beat Louisville with the lengthy ball. He has the mullet and the facial hair, and he can hit a baseball to the moon.
Cael Baker is conscious of your Kenny Powers memes pic.twitter.com/QKXSKTejVs
— Nathanael Gabler (@nategabler) February 15, 2020
Cael Baker, in his first weekend carrying a Rebels uniform, hit 5 of 12 and drew a stroll, nevertheless it was his Saturday as a chosen hitter that might be remembered by Ole Miss followers. Baker went four for four on Saturday, hitting two house runs and recording 4 RBIs in Saturday’s come-from-behind win. The junior school switch can play first base and can see appreciable time transferring ahead as a chosen hitter.
three. Derek Diamond is as marketed
Freshman right-hander Derek Diamond was one of many nation’s high pitching recruits. Returning starters had raved about him, his freshman catcher was impressed and Mike Bianco trusted him sufficient to start out him on the weekend from day one.
No Ole Miss starter was unbelievable over the weekend, however Diamond had the very best numbers of the three. He doesn’t have the strikeout pitches that Doug Nikhazy or Gunnar Hoglund sport, however he impressed together with his command. At one level on Sunday, he retired seven straight Louisville batters. He wasn’t excellent, hanging a pair of pitches to permit back-to-back solo house runs within the sixth inning earlier than being pulled, nevertheless it’s a powerful begin for a highly-touted freshman.
four. Peyton Chatagnier turns heads in debut
Second base was an open competitors heading into opening weekend between freshman Peyton Chatagnier and sophomore Justin Bench. Bench had a very nice opening sequence himself, beginning two video games within the outfield and Sunday at second, however Chatagnier had pretty much as good of a debut sequence as any newcomer on the crew.
Chatagnier hit three for 9 on the weekend, drawing a stroll for a .455 on base proportion. He had a handful of well timed hits, together with an RBI double on Saturday to kick off the Insurgent scoring and regarded strong defensively at second. Bianco has mentioned that the freshman might play within the outfield as effectively, however for now, it looks as if second base is for Peyton Chatagnier.
Ole Miss returns to Swayze Discipline on Tuesday and Wednesday for video games in opposition to Arkansas State and Alcorn State.