Calvin Harris continues strong year in SEC play by etching his name in the Ole Miss record book
Ole Miss does not have a lot of good things going for it during this 2023 college baseball season as the defending national champions are limping to the end of the year. Catcher Calvin Harris is one of those few bright spots.
The Ole Miss catcher made history on Saturday, crushing four home runs in the series finale against Missouri to help the Rebels secure a 20-14 victory and avoid a fourth sweep in Southeastern Conference play.
Calvin’s four long balls set a new single-game record for the most home runs by a player in program history. The previous record was three and was accomplished seven times by six former Rebels dating back to 1967.
Jude Voltz’ three-home run performance against Vanderbilt on April 2, 1999 was the last time it occurred.
Nobody has previously done what Harris accomplished this weekend, which totaled for 10 runs batted in. That ties a program record for most RBIs by a player in a single game. Charlie Conerly was the first and only other Rebel to do it, bringing in 10 runs against Millsaps College on April 28, 1947.
Obviously that was good, but to get out here and bounce back from the past two days was the most important thing for us,” Harris said to Brad Henderson of the Ole Miss Radio Network after Saturday’s game.
Harris’ career day is also only the third time in SEC history a player hit at least four home runs in a game.
Contributing half of the Ole Miss runs scored in the game that salvaged one on the weekend, only one other Rebel recorded five RBIs in leadoff hitter and shortstop Jacob Gonzalez who went 2-for-5 at the plate with a double.
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Saturday’s effort is one example of how strong Harris has been at the plate for Ole Miss during SEC play.
Among Rebels who have played in at least 22 of the 24 SEC games this season Harris is the fourth best hitter with a batting average of .308 (28-for-91) with 19 RBIs and seven home runs. The RBI total is third best on the team behind Gonzalez’s team-leading 25 and left fielder Kemp Alderman’s 21.
Harris’ SEC home run total is second best on the team behind Alderman’s eight in SEC play.
Saturday’s game off course boosted Harris up the team’s stat sheet but he has been a strong performance in conference play all season. Moving around from the third spot to cleanup in the lineup, Harris is more times than not in a prime position to provide some offense.
“One of the best guys in the lineup and a guy that’s had a tremendous year,” Bianco said of Harris. “I’ve played and watched a lot of baseball and I haven’t seen that, four home runs in one day. Pretty special.”
The junior catcher’s jump in production in conference play from last season to this year is noticeable but also due to receiving everyday playing time. In 2022 Harris hit for .143 (5-for-35) and five RBIs in 19 SEC games played in.
This season is not going to plan for Ole Miss (25-22, 6-18 SEC) who dropped its seventh SEC series after losing the first two games to Missouri. of the weekend. The Rebels blew a seven-game lead in Thursday’s opener to fall 11-9 and were run-ruled, 13-3, on Friday.
