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No letdown for No. 6 Ole Miss in run-rule shutout win at Memphis

11by:Jake Thompson•04/08/25•

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Ole Miss pitcher Gunnar Dennis. Mandatory credit: Ole Miss athletics

If there was any concern of an emotional letdown after the Kentucky series last weekend Ole Miss made sure to eliminate that thought immediately.

The No. 9-ranked Rebels completed the season sweep of Memphis, beating the Tigers 10-0 for a run-rule victory in seven innings at FedEx Park on Tuesday. It was the first of two midweek games on the slate for Ole Miss this week, serving as tune ups before No. 5 Tennessee comes to Oxford this weekend.

Everything was working for the Rebels (25-7) with pitching on point and the offense managed to score runs in all but one inning.

Gunnar Dennis got the ball on Tuesday and picked up his second win of the season, working four shutout innings. He gave up four hits and struck out five Tiger batters while lowering his earned run average under 4.00 for the season.

“I thought I got off to a good start,” Dennis said. “Those first three innings were pretty smooth. Gave up a couple hits in the fourth, but I was glad I was able to punch out the side. Just get my team the opportunity to run-rule tonight.”

Hudson Calhoun, Patrick Galle and Sam Tookoian worked an inning each to help complete the collective shutout by the Ole Miss staff. This was only the second shutout victory by Ole Miss on the season.

At the plate the Rebels got support up and down the lineup. Right fielder Ryan Moerman had a better night, going 2-for-2 with three runs batted in and pair of doubles and a walk. Catcher Austin Fawley also recorded two RBIs despite going 0-for-4 with a RBI groundout then reaching on an error by the Memphis shortstop.

In total Ole Miss got eight hits and scored at least 10 runs in a game for the 10th time this season. When situational hitting was lacking at Kentucky this past weekend it showed up in Memphis. The Rebels hit .400 (8-for-20) with runners on base and 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Both teams stranded seven runners.

“It starts on the mound and dominant pitching is probably the most important recipe of a baseball game,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. “Certainly we had that tonight and it started with (Dennis) from inning one.

“It was good to see Ryan get back and really have some good swings. …When you have a good night (at the plate), usually it’s collectively through the lineup and we did that again tonight.”

Next up is Alcorn State (4-24) at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday. With the Volunteers looming in three days it is easy to look past a scuffling opponent like the Braves. Bianco is making sure that is not happening.

“You continue to challenge them,” Bianco said. “We talk so much about midweek challenge and being where your feet are and you can’t get to Friday now, right? What’s in front of us is Alcorn State tomorrow at four o’clock and it’s really the sign of a mature team. Will you be able to do this? Can you just get into the grind and play the games that you’re in, where your feet are? I think they know they did that tonight.”

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