Rebels blank Samford 3-0 to wrap up home stand

Senior first baseman Matt Smith hit a two-run homer to center in the first and that was all the offense the Diamond Rebels (16-6) needed in a 3-0 victory over Samford (15-8) on Tuesday night.

“It was a well-played game. (We got) a big home run, obviously, by Matt (Smith) in the first,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said. “I thought (Matt) Tracy wasn’t as sharp as he was last week, but battled out of some jams against a very good Samford team. Offensively, they didn’t give us much – They pitched well and just ran arm after arm out there.”

Tracy (3-1), a senior left-hander, picked up the win as he allowed no runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out six in five innings.

“It always helps to jump out and get ahead because we’ve had a tendency to start slow in some games, so it’s always nice to have some runs up (on the scoreboard) and helps you get a little more comfortable out there,” Tracy said.

In the sixth, the offense strung together back-to-back two-out hits to add an insurance run. Junior outfield Eric Sauls, making his first start in an Ole Miss uniform, doubled down the right-field line and scored on a RBI single from sophomore outfielder Tanner Mathis.

Returning from forearm stiffness and elbow inflammation, junior right-hander R.J. Hively and freshman right-hander Bobby Wahl each made their second appearance of the season and pitched a perfect sixth and seventh, respectively.

“They certainly looked healthy,” Bianco said. “Wahl was a little sharper than Hively, but both looked good and you’re proud of them. It’s tough when you haven’t been out there in a while.”

Sophomore right-hander Brett Huber earned his third save of the season, stranding runners at first and second with no outs in the eighth with three straight flyball outs, including a game-saving, diving catch by senior Jordan King to end the Samford rally. Huber faced the minimum in the ninth, striking out a pair of batters, to close out the game.

The win caps a 14-game homestand for Ole Miss, which posted a 9-5 record during the span and included a mid-week series sweep of Austin Peay and a weekend series sweep of Lipscomb. Next on the Rebels’ agenda is a three-game road series, which starts Friday, against the Tennessee Volunteers.