OM Wins Game One Over Lipscomb

Bobby Wahl looked like his old self, and Preston Overbey looked like the hitter he can be as Ole Miss got past Lipscomb easily 10-1 Friday night.

By: Jeff Roberson, OMSpirit.com

Photo by Peyton Spear

Wahl went six innings with no runs on three hits, no walks and six strikeouts. After battling a blister and a fingernail problem for a couple of weeks, Wahl pitched like the third-year collegiate ace that he is.

“It’s a good feeling to be in control of a game and have the command back,” said Wahl, now 4-0 on the season. “I’m thankful for Josh Porter, our new trainer. He’s really buckled down on my blister issue and all that. This week I started to feel good and had the feel in my fingertips, which is always a plus. So I’m thankful for that.”

Wahl said he knows a finger situation seems irrelevant, but it isn’t.

“As little as a finger issue is, it does bother you and is very aggravating,” he said. “At the same time, you have to buckle down and get through. That’s what I’ve been doing the past couple of weeks. I was commanding everything pretty well tonight.”

Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco, who with the win tied Jake Gibbs as the all-time winningest coach in Ole Miss baseball history, said his team was solid.

“I thought a well-played game by us,” Bianco said, after his team improved to 14-1 on the season. “It starts on the mound, and it was by far Bobby’s best outing of the year. Just electric stuff. He’s not just a fast ball guy. He can really mix.”

Ole Miss, ranked seventh nationally this week, had scored 10 runs by the end of the fourth inning. Wahl said the run support early was what he likes to see.

“It makes things a lot easier,” he said.

Junior second baseman Preston Overbey was 2-for-4 on the night with four RBI.

“Preston Overbey with the two-out RBI. That’s just a back-breaker (for the opposition),” Wahl said. “It’s just unbelievable to see him swing the bat like he’s been doing it.”

“Offensively a big night for us,” said Bianco as Ole Miss had 14 hits. “Preston Overbey with the big bases-loaded, two-out hit early on that I thought broke things open for us.”

Andrew Mistone was 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Stuart Turner was 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored. Auston Bousfield was 3-for-5 with a run scored.

Bianco said Overbey continues to come through and look like the hitter they know he is.

“He’s worked so hard, and hitting is a difficult thing,” Bianco said. “He’s worked hard with Coach (Cliff) Godwin. You can see him trying to stay back and hit the ball to right center field. He can really do that. When he does it, he can be special up there.”

The same two teams meet again Saturday at 1:30 p.m.