OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss successfully began the midweek portion of its 2023 season with an 11-3 victory against Arkansas State Tuesday at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

In the top of the first, it took a moment for Rebel true freshman right-hander JT Quinn to find his rhythm, allowing a double by Wil French followed by a groundout for Blake Burris and a walk for Brandon Hager. French scored from third on a wild pitch to Kody Darcy, but one run would be all the Red Wolves would get as Quinn settled in to finish the frame.

Ole Miss (4-0) answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Ethan Groff doubled to left center, and after Jacob Gonzalez grounded out, Kemp Alderman reached on an error. Alderman scored from third on a rundown for Ethan Lege between first and second after Lege had reached on a single.

Quinn was more effective in the second with a three up, three down inning. The Rebels then added to their lead in the bottom of second. TJ McCants walked to lead things off, followed by a Will Furniss home run to right over the home bullpen for a 4-1 lead. Tywone Malone then launched a solo homer into the large batter's eye in center field to make it 5-1.

That's when ASU went to the bullpen as starting RHP Michael Finan was out and right-hander Coby Grenier entered the game. The Rebels could get no more runs in the inning.

The bottom of the fourth turned out to be another highly productive one for the Rebels. Peyton Chatagnier doubled down the left field line, followed by a double from Groff to center which scored Chatagnier. Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, and Alderman doubled down the left field line to score Gonzalez and Groff. The Rebels were in command, leading 8-1 through four complete.

After two walks in the fifth inning, Quinn's day was one. Right-hander Mitch Murrell came in to relieve him, but Brandon Hager then singled to left center to score a run. Daedrick Cail singled to left to score Blake Burris who had reached on a walk. It was 8-3 heading to the bottom of the fifth.

Ole Miss added three runs in its portion of the fifth inning. A Gonzalez double scored Groff who had reached on a hit by pitch. Alderman then sent one into the visiting bullpen in left to also score Gonzalez and an 11-3 Rebel lead. That would be all the scoring in the contest.

Ole Miss sent seven pitchers to the mound. Quinn (1-0) got the win, but also appearing were Murrell, Brayden Jones, Cole Ketchum, Cole Tolbert, Sam Tookoian, and Mason Nichols.

The loss went to Finan (0-1), the first of nine ASU pitchers in the game.

Alderman had five RBI for the Rebels, going 2-for-4 with a home run. Groff and Chatagnier also had two hits each in the game.

Ole Miss had 12 hits, while ASU (3-1) had six hits in the game.

Up Next

The Rebels host Maryland of the Big Ten Conference this weekend for three games, the first one beginning Friday at 4 p.m.