Smith’s timely return lifts Rebels over SEMO
Published 11:39 am Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Matt Smith’s return to the Ole Miss lineup was both triumphant and record-setting.
The senior outfielder came back just 12 days after having surgery for a broken hand and went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored to lead the Rebels to a 10-6 victory over Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday night.
Smith’s three RBIs moved him into a tie with Logan Power for first on Ole Miss’ career list, with 183.
“Matt Smith was tremendous tonight. When I said he would be one of the greatest players to play here, I meant it,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said. “To do what he has done, from coming back and playing a week after hurting his arm as a freshman, to coming back 12 days after surgery for a broken hand this week. He’s remarkable.”
Smith was the Rebels’ biggest star Tuesday, but hardly the only one. Four players had multiple hits, while Miles Hamblin and Matt Snyder both homered.
Trent Rothlin picked up the win in relief, going three innings in the middle of the game. He allowed four hits, no runs, and struck out four batters. Rothlin was the second of five pitchers used by Bianco as he tried to keep the bulk of his staff fresh for a key Southeastern Conference series at Arkansas beginning on Thursday night.
“I was proud of our pitchers tonight,” Bianco said. “We have an early Thursday game again this week and we needed some guys who haven’t pitched a ton to step up tonight. They did that.”
The revolving door on the mound — Southeast Missouri (29-20) used six pitchers — led to an expected offensive slugfest. Southeast got on the board first with three runs in the top of the third, then Ole Miss (29-23) answered in the bottom half with four runs.
From there, the Rebels steadily pulled away. Smith drove in two runs with a single in the fourth inning and Blake Newalu delivered a sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it 7-3. Finally, in the eighth, Snyder’s two-run homer served as the coup de grace by giving the Rebels a 10-3 advantage.
Southeast did score three runs in the top of the ninth, but a run-scoring double play cleared the bases and a strikeout ended the game.