Grayson Saunier returned to the weekend lineup and gave Ole Miss his best outing of the year
Grayson Saunier has had ups and downs and plenty of adversity his first season in an Ole Miss uniform but Sunday provided a strong look at what his future holds on the mound.
After being taken out of the weekend rotation last month Saunier made his return, getting the start in Ole Miss’ series finale against Georgia. In a game that the Rebels needed to win in order to keep its chances of getting to Hoover alive Saunier delivered his best performance of the season.
Less than a week after starting against Mississippi State in Pearl and throwing 70 pitches Saunier went six innings against the other Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference in the Rebels 8-7 walk-off win.
Prior to the start in the Governor’s Cup last Tuesday Saunier had not thrown in two weeks — his last start was at Memphis on April 4 — but then had his busiest week of the season.
Saunier gave up just one run on two hits and struck out six without a walk. He threw 51 strikes out of 77 pitches.
“It’s been a lot,” Saunier said. “Mentally, trying to figure some things out. It’s been good to finally get back out here and pitch good.”
The six-inning outing on Sunday was Saunier’s career best. He had two five-inning outings earlier in the season (at Minnesota and at Memphis) but this weekend was a rare performance with an Ole Miss starter going at least six innings on the weekend.
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco made the change to the pitching rotation ahead of the Texas A&M series, bumping Saunier out and bringing fellow freshman JT Quinn along with Jack Dougherty and Xavier Rivas.
“He’s been good with the slider and offspeed pitches, but that was his best fastball day command-wise,” Bianco said. “He was able to locate on a tough day to pitch.”
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Prior Sunday the last SEC start Saunier had this season was on March 25 against Florida.
After getting moved out of the weekend rotation, where he started the season as the Saturday starter, Saunier sat in the bullpen and was not used against the Aggies.
Then after the Memphis start he was once again left in the bullpen and not used until this weekend. Saunier would be seen at times warming up in the bullpen during games but never got the nod from Bianco to come out.
Sunday was his chance to bounce back from a season that was not what he, nor anyone, envisioned him having.
“I’d say I’ve had a lot of adversity (this season),” Saunier said. “Just learning how to keep battling, keep working everyday. Just keep pushing and keep believing.”
With Hunter Elliott back on the shelf after returning for one start off a sprained UCL the weekend rotation is once again needing a third man. This weekend was Rivas on Friday and Quinn on Saturday. Saunier got the call after Saturday’s game that he would be starting the rubber match.
Nothing is official and each weekend will be fluid but Saunier provided a strong audition for staying in the rotation for the final three weeks of the regular season.
