Ole Miss bullpen holds down Blazers in 2-1 win to earn series sweep

OXFORD | Ole Miss won a different type of outcome on Sunday, putting together just enough offense for a 2-1 nail-biter to sweep UAB at Swayze Field. After scoring 15 and 13 runs, respectively, in the first two games of the series, the best parts of the Rebel bullpen continued their excellent work, and a couple heroic offensive plays carried the day.

Ole Miss heads to Louisville for a two-game set Tuesday and Wednesday and opens SEC play with a home series against Alabama starting Friday at 6:30 p.m.

UAB had runners on the corners and one out in the eighth, trailing 2-1, against Parker Caracci. Zack Davis swung through a full-count pitch, as Carter Pharis coasted into second base on the pitch, setting up two in scoring position. However, even though no one covered the bag, Cooper Johnson pump-faked a throw, as Davis walked in front of the plate and into Johnson’s throwing lane.

Instead of UAB having an at-bat to tie the game in the inning, Mike Bianco argued for interference and got the call, ending the inning after a short umpire conference.

Anthony Servideo said no one was going to cover, and they were letting the runner take the bag. It was a smart, quick play from Johnson and the right call from the umpires.

Austin Miller and Connor Green have been Ole Miss’ most valuable arms this season, and they both stepped up to strand runners in this one. Miller relieved starter Gunnar Hoglund with two on and one out in the fourth inning. It was 1-0 UAB at the time, and Miller got a line out and strikeout to end the inning.

In the sixth, after Miller allowed three batters to reach on two hit by pitches and a walk, Green forced a ground out to end that inning.

Green hasn’t allowed a run and has 11 strikeouts with no walks in 10 innings this season. Miller has allowed one earned run in 15.2 innings on the year.

With the rested bullpen, Bianco was quicker than normal with his pitching changes and correctly navigated the final 5.2 innings of the weekend. UAB didn’t have a hit against an Ole Miss reliever until the single against Parker Caracci in the ninth inning.

Ole Miss is always an aggressive team with runners on base, and that paid off with the winning run. Tyler Keenan’s two-out single through the right side ended up the winning hit, as Servideo, who reached on a walk, went first to third on the hit and then kept going home as UAB outfielder Keegan Morrow fumbled the pick up. The Rebels have attempted two-base tag ups twice this season, and Servideo’s speed and quick-twitch ability make for some unorthodox advancement opportunities.

Thomas Dillard greeted MSU transfer Graham Ashcraft with a solo home run to dead centerfield during the sixth inning. The Blazers walked Dillard twice intentionally on the day, but his seventh home run of the season knotted the game.

Hoglund’s fastball command floated up in the zone, but he survived the first three innings which was a positive sign. In past weeks he's limited opponent damage, and again Sunday he operated through the UAB order without his best stuff, finally giving up a solo home run before exiting for Miller. If Ole Miss had the lead, Bianco likely lets Hoglund ride it out longer. He’ll need to be better in SEC play, but there’s certainly been improvement the past two starts.

Ole Miss entered the weekend with six errors on the season but made nine in the three games including six in the three different first innings. Early errors pile up pitch counts, eliminate early rhythm for starters and give opponents early scoring chances. It didn’t bite the Rebels against UAB, but it will in league games if Ole Miss doesn’t play cleaner defense on routine plays.

Doug Nikhazy threw to two batters in relief as part of a lefty-lefty matchup situation. He only pitched 11 pitches. Bianco said they don’t know yet who will start the midweek games at Louisville.

Caracci was up to 95 MPH multiple times and had better command of the fastball. Breaking ball attempts were limited and need to be mixed more, but it was a step in the right direction following the three-walk outing last weekend.