Never seen one finish like that. Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said he hadn’t either, but he’ll take it.
Leading 1-0 in the ninth, the Rebels faced a 1-out, bases-loaded situation. After a ground ball to Ole Miss shortstop Austin Anderson — whose leadoff error helped TCU get off on the right foot in the ninth — TCU’s Dylan Fitzgerald was called for interference on the basepath in moving from first to second. Ole Miss was awarded a game-ending double play.
Here’s Bianco:
It was a strong performance from Bobby Wahl which was expected, and a strong performance from Tanner Bailey as the first man out of the pen.
After the error on Anderson, TCU got a bunt single, and Huber didn’t record his first out until TCU’s second sacrifice attempt, which put runners at second and third. Bianco intentionally walked the next man, setting up the double play.
Here’s Wahl talking about his day:
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Moving along through six complete. Here’s what it looks like so far. I’ll update after.
Top 1
Jones, a lefty. Wahl ahead 1-2, touching 93. 1-2 pitch double down left field line. Right down the line, a ground ball. There was no play for Mistone.
Odell, a lefty. 2-1, then a liner to CF. Nice catch by Bousfield on the move. 1 out.
Cron. A righty. Count 2-0, then curve ball in for strike, then 3-1 and walks on pitch in dirt.
Witte a righty. Called K 2 outs.
Johnson, a lefty. 2-2, then K at a high fastball. 3 outs, stranded.
Bottom 1
Mathis. Fouls off two, goes 0-2. Nubber to second, 4-3. 1 out.
Anderson. Finnegan hits 94 on first pitch, a strike. Anderson makes good contact by right at second. 4-3, 2 outs.
Boustfield. Hacking, down 1-2 in count, then singles up middle but thrown out easily at second when he tried to advance on a wild throw. 3 outs.
Top 2
Suiter, a righty. Lines to CF. 1 out.
Fitzgerald, a lefty. 1-2 count. Then 2-2 and K swinging. 2 outs.
Jones, a righty. 4-3. 3 outs.
Bottom 2
Allen. Count 1-2. K swinging.
Turner. Count 2-1, then 3-2 and ground ball to short. 2 outs.
Orvis. 2-1 then nubber right side, out 3U. 3 outs.
Top 3
Bacak lines to short. 1 out. Jones. K swinging. 2 outs. Odell. L1. 3 outs.
Bottom 3
Mistone. 0-1 count takes a pitch the other way. Nice piece of hitting for a guy who was hitting better at the end of last season. Jamison. Count 1-2. K swinging. Couldn’t get down the bunt. 1 out. Wilson. Lines hard to short. 2 outs. Mathis on hit-and-run grounds to second. 3 outs.
Top 4
Cron. Lines softly to second. Wahl jammed him inside. 1 out. Witte. Count 2-1, goes 3-2, reaches on E4. Routine ground ball. Johnson. K swinging at high fastball. 2 outs. Suiter. Count 2-1, then 3-2, K swinging at high fastball. 3 outs.
Bottom 4
Anderson. Count 2-1, ground ball to first. 1 out. Bousfield. Count 2-2, 3-2, single up middle. Allen. 1-0, F9. 2 outs. Turner. Low and away and 0-2, 1-2 and fly to right. 3 outs.
Top 5
Fitzgerald. F9. 1 out. Jones. 2-2, 3-2 and walks. Bacak. 3-0 and walks. TOP OF ORDER: Jones bunts runners ahead. 2-3. 2 outs. Odell, lefty. 92 MPH FB low strike. Count goes 1-2 after another well-placed strike low in the zone. Then 2-2 and K 2-3. 3 outs. 2 LOB
TCU FIRST TEAM TO REACH THIRD BASE.
Bottom 5
Orvis. Count 1-2 then singles up middle. Mistone. Orvis to second on hit-and-run. Mistone out 5-3. 1 out. Jamison … Orvis advances on PB. Count 1-1. SQUEEZE BUNT Orvis scores, Jamison out. Ole Miss leads 1-0. Wilson Count 3-0. BB. Mound visit for Finnegan. Mathis. Wilson STEALS SECOND. Count 1-2 on Mathis then K swinging. 3 outs. Ole Miss 1, TCU 0
Top 6
Cron leadoff single to LF. Sharpest ball hit off Wahl. Witte. Count 2-0, 3-1 6-4-3 DP. 2 OUTS. Good pick-up at first by Orvis. Johnson. Count 2-2, 3-2 and single to RF. Suiter F8 3 outs.
Bott 6
Anderson F8. 1 out. Bousfield. Walk. Allen. Hit-and-run single to RF. Bousfield to third. Turner. Count 0-2 and HBP to load bases. Orvis. Loses bat and it reaches the stands. Count 0-2 and K looking inside pitch. 2 outs. Mistone. Pops in foul territory to end the threat.
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About 40 minutes to first pitch at Swayze Field.
Ole Miss lineup
LF Tanner Mathis
SS Austin Anderson
CF Auston Bousfield
DH Will Allen
C Stuart Turner
1B Sikes Orvis
3B Andrew Mistone
RF Will Jamison
2B Lance Wilson
RHP: Bobby Wahl
TCU
CF Cody Jones
2B Derek Odell
1B Kevin Cron
3B Jantzen Witte
LF Brett Johnson
DH Jerrick Sulter
RF Dylan Fitzgerald
SS Keaton Jones
C Kyle Bacak
LHP: Brandon Finnegan
Denham Springs, La., native, Mississippian since 1989 with a stop in Meridian before arriving in Tupelo. Daily Journal beat writer since 1996, covering Ole Miss since 2002. Proud Northeast Louisiana alum. Follow me on Twitter @parrishalford and listen to Kory Keys and myself daily with The Ole Miss Beat on Rebel Sports Radio.
