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Arizona Defeats Ole Miss 16-3, Advances to College World Series

Jun 13, 2021

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (45-16) punched their ticket to the College World Series for the 18th time in program history with a dominant 16-3 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels (45-22) on Sunday night.

The Wildcats have now advanced to the biggest stage in college baseball, the College World Series, twice in five opportunities under head coach Jay Johnson.

Arizona put together quite possibly their most complete performance of the year, leading the game from the third inning on with the help of stifling pitching, explosive offense, and error-free defense.

The Wildcats pitching staff kept the Rebels at bay all night, only allowing three runs on five hits. TJ Nichols was masterful, relieving Dawson Netz in the 3rd inning and  punching out seven while only surrendering one run after pitching 5.1 innings. Vince Vannelle came to the mound in the ninth inning to close the game and send the Cats to Omaha.

The offense jumped on the Rebels early and often and found themselves in front 10-1 after just four innings. A two-run home run from Ryan Holgate kick started a seven-run bottom of the fourth that put the game out of reach. Four different Wildcats hammered RBI extra-base hits in the crooked inning.

When it was all said and done, six Arizona starters had logged multiple base knocks and four had driven in multiple runs, led by a five-RBI performance from first baseman Branden Boissiere. The top three hitters in the Wildcats lineup — Donta Williams, Jacob Berry, and Boissiere — combined to go 9-for-14 with 10 runs scored, four doubles, one home run, 10 RBI, and three walks.
Arizona WildBATS

  • CF Donta Williams: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R
  • DH Jacob Berry: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R
  • 1B Branden Boissiere: 4-for-6, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 3 R
  • 2B Kobe Kato: 3-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R
  • RF Ryan Holgate: 3-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R

Bullpen Bullies

  • RHP TJ Nichols: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 7 K, Win (6-3)
  • RHP Preston Price: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 K
  • RHP Vince Vannelle: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R

Number of the Night

  • The Wildcats punched their ticket to the College World Series for the 18th time in program history, tied for seventh most in the nation. 

Photos of the Night

Tweets of the Night

Up Next
The Wildcats will head to the College World Series in Omaha where they will face Vanderbilt in their opening game.