June 17, 2014

Ole Miss Rallies Past Texas Tech

By Phil Stanton

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder

phil@collegebaseballinsider.com @RoadToOmaha

OMAHA, Neb. - The Rebels came through in a pinch.

Senior John Gatlin had a pinch-hit single with one out in the bottom of the ninth to plate pinch-runner Aaron Greenwood with the game-winning run as Ole Miss edged Texas Tech 2-1 Monday afternoon in an elimination game in the 2014 College World Series in front of 18,828 fans at TD Ameritrade Park.

The Rebels (47-20) will face TCU on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. CT. The Red Raiders went 0-2 in their first trip to the College World Series and finished the season at 45-21.

With the score knotted at 1-1 in the ninth, pinch-hitter Colby Bortles drew a one-out walk for Ole Miss. Pinch-hitter Brantley Bell hit a come-backer to pitcher Cameron Smith, who threw wildly to second trying to start the double play and allowing Bortles to advance to third. Greenwood took Bortles' place on third and Gatlin entered as a pinch-hitter. He delivered a single to right-center to bring home Greenwood with the game-winner.

"Our guys seemed very composed coming back into the dugout in the bottom of the ninth," Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. "Just proud we've got a couple freshmen off the bench with great at-bats. And then John Gatlin gets a base hit. One of the great things about this profession, about being a coach, is to watch young men like John that are terrific representatives of the University. It was one of those neat things to watch him get a base hit to win it."

"That's why this team is so special," Gatlin said. "We contribute in so many different ways and when the game is on the line like that, we're each called upon in different situations. Every one of us feels like we're prepared for it and expected to get the job done. It goes back to the toughness that we've been preaching all year."

Scott Weathersby (4-1, 1 IP, H, R) picked up the win in relief of Christian Trent (6 H, BB, 6 K), who tossed eight scoreless innings.

"I felt early on my fastball command was good," Trent said. "Really got good use of my slider and changeup. I was able to keep them off-balance and use those pitches in full effect."

Ole Miss snapped the scoreless tie in the seventh. Sikes Orvis reached on a one-out error and moved to second when J.B. Woodman drew a walk. With two away, pinch-hitter Holt Perdzock hit the first pitch he saw just inside the third base bag for a single to plate Orvis with the first run.

Tech tied it in the top of the ninth. Adam Kirsch had a one-out single to center and was replaced by the speedy Zach Davis, who proceeded to steal second and third. Pinch-hitter Anthony Lyons sent a fly ball to right on which Will Jamieson made a diving catch. It was deep enough to bring home Davis with the tying run.