Auburn Falls to Ole Miss 5-1 in College World Series
Mississippi’s Kevin Graham (35) reaches for the plate as he slides past Auburn catcher Nate LaRue (28) during the first inning of an NCAA College World Series baseball game Saturday, June 18, 2022, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/John Peterson)
By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer
Dylan DeLucia allowed one run and struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings and Ole Miss continued its postseason roll with a 5-1 victory over Auburn in its College World Series opener Saturday night.
DeLucia mostly dominated an Auburn team that came in averaging just under 11 runs per game in the NCAA Tournament, limiting the Tigers to four hits without a walk before giving way to Josh Mallitz.
Mississippi (38-22) will play a second straight Southeastern Conference West rival in Arkansas on Monday. The Razorbacks beat Stanford 17-2 on Saturday. Auburn (42-21) will meet Stanford Monday afternoon in an elimination game.
After being the last at-large team selected for the NCAA Tournament, the Rebels won three straight in regionals and shut out Southern Mississippi twice in super regionals.
The Tigers ended Mississippi’s 26-inning shutout streak in the seventh. Garrett Farquhar, who took over at second base in the fourth inning for an ill Cole Foster, doubled leading off and scored from third on Bobby Peirce’s single to left.
DeLucia ran his tournament strikeout total to 31 in 19 1/3 innings and is the leader of a staff that’s been at its best in June.
In six games, the Rebels have a 1.83 ERA and are averaging 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings, giving up less than 5.3 hits per game and striking out nearly six batters for every one they walk.
“The guys are pitching with tremendous confidence,” Bianco said, “and that was Dylan today.”
(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)
