Ole Miss run-ruled No. 15 Clemson 15-5 in seven innings in its finale at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown on Sunday, winning two out of three at the premier tournament. The Rebels defeated No. 21 Arizona on Friday and lost to No. 19 Texas on Saturday.
Junior second baseman Luke Hill hit two home runs against the Tigers and drove in five runs, and senior outfielder Ryan Moerman hit a three-run home run. In his first-career game, freshman designated hitter Hayden Federico had three hits and drove in two runs. Junior third baseman Judd Utermark hit a two-run home run in the second.
Senior Mason Nichols started for the Rebels (2-1) and went three innings, struck out two and walked one.
Federico led off the game with an opposite-field single in his first-career at-bat, which was followed by a walk from Hill. Moerman, an Illinois transfer, then hit a towering three-run home run to left, the Rebels’ first runs since the fifth inning of Friday’s season opener.
The first two batters of the second inning reached for Ole Miss as well, and following a sacrifice bunt from senior shortstop Luke Cheng, Federico drove in a run with a groundout. Hill tripled in the next at-bat, and a two-run, two-out moonshot from Utermark made it 7-0. Clemson (2-0) starter Justin LeGuernic lasted just 1 2/3 innings before the Tigers were forced into their bullpen.
Clemson put two runners aboard in the bottom of the second, but Cheng helped turn an inning-ending double play. The Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the third, but a three-run home run to opposite field from Hill gave the Rebels an eight-run cushion.
Clemson scored two runs in the fourth, but Hill’s second home run in the top of the sixth made it 11-4. The Rebels loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh and scored four runs on two wild pitches and RBIs from Cheng and Federico.
Junior St. Joseph’s transfer Will McCausland pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief, surrendering one earned run with eight strikeouts and one walk.
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