Tigers offense stifled by Ole Miss throw in Men’s College World Series
Auburn, Ala. (EETV) — Ole Miss starting pitcher Dylan DeLucia was a staple in Game 1 against the No. 14 Auburn Tigers. DeLucia hosted a pitching clinic with 10 strikeouts in seven innings and two third and allowed only four hits without a walk.
Behind DeLucia, Ole Miss beat Auburn, 5-1.
“We could never get any offense,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “Dylan just put a slider under us and a fastball over us. He didn’t fool us too much. We couldn’t assess the strike zone with him on the mound. It shortens the game for their enclosure, who did a good job and reached the finish line.”
Ole Miss took the lead in the first inning, scoring two runs off starting pitcher Joseph Gonzalez. The Rebels extended their lead to three runs in the third inning and five runs in the sixth.
Gonzalez was struck out in the sixth inning for left-handed reliever Carson Skipper. Gonzalez threw seven strikeouts, but allowed seven hits and four runs in his time on the mound.
Auburn’s Brody Moore got the first hit for the Tigers in the fifth inning. Auburn would wait in the seventh inning for another hit when Garrett Farquhar doubled up. After the double, Sonny Dichiara came up to the plate and hit a single to center field to send Farquhar down to third. Bobby Peirce brought in Farquhar to score for Auburn’s first inning of the day.
In the eighth inning, Blake Rambusch reached first base on an error but was put out to end the inning.
Carson Skipper finished his game with six strikeouts and four hits, and one walk in his four innings played.
Auburn was down four before the last frame of the game, but three quick strikeouts from Josh Mallitz ended the game. Mallitz pitched an inning and a third and produced three strikeouts to close the game.
“Today wasn’t really a true testament to who we are,” Skipper said. “Monday will be a different story. It’s how you react and bounce back that defines who you are.”
Auburn will face No. 2 Stanford Monday at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN in a playoff game. Ole Miss will face Arkansas in the winners bracket on Monday at 6 p.m. CT.