OXFORD – No. 6 Ole Miss scored a program-record 29 runs against Alcorn State in a 29-1 win over the Braves on Wednesday in seven innings at Swayze Field. The previous record was 28 runs scored against Illinois College in 1989. It’s the 11th time Ole Miss (26-7) has scored at least 10 runs in a game and second consecutive occurrence.
Ole Miss had 23 hits and hit five home runs.
“It’s just one of those situations where you need to stay within yourself and just swing at the good pitches that they give you and just kind of go about your at-bats the same way,” junior third baseman Luke Hill said. “ … Consistency is a really big thing, and we did that.”
Five Ole Miss players drove in at least four runs, including a pair of five-RBI performances from senior right fielder Isaac Humphrey and senior infielder Luke Cheng, the latter of whom hit two home runs. Sophomore catcher Campbell Smithwick drove in four runs, and junior second baseman Judd Utermark hit his team-leading 11th home run to go along with four RBIs. Freshman infielder Ethan Surowiec’s three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth gave Ole Miss the single-game scoring record.
Alcorn State (4-25) used eight pitchers.
Making his first career home start and second overall, freshman pitcher Cade Townsend pitched four innings with one hit allowed. He struck out five batters and did not issue a walk.
Alcorn State batters had five hits total and struck out 10 times.
“(Townsend) was terrific. It was good to see,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. “And we needed it, with two midweek games and, talking to (pitching) coach (Joel) Mangrum at the end of the Kentucky series on the way back that it would be a good opportunity for him to get another start and just to relax and go out there and not just have to get up and down in the bullpen a few times. So, it was good to see him throw well.”
Ole Miss scored six runs on four hits in the first inning and plated two more runs in the second. Utermark’s two-run home run in the third hit the batter’s eye in centerfield and put the run-rule into effect. The Rebels scored six runs in the fourth, highlighted by Cheng’s and Humphrey’s blasts. Cheng hit his second home run in the fifth inning. The Rebels scored six or more runs in three separate innings.
Ole Miss hosts defending national champion No. 5 Tennessee for a three-game series starting Friday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
“Play our best baseball and we’ll be all right,” Hill said.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
