Bianco secures career win No. 1,000 in Ole Miss doubleheader split at Georgia
Ole Miss baseball was able to salvage at least one win in its three-game weekend series at No. 23 Georgia.
But while the Rebels didn’t really improve their rest-of-season outlook, One thousand as a head coach, nine hundred as a Rebel. Congratulations @CoachMikeBianco! #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/jgarzamPIS
The Rebels rallied for a 3-2 win in Game 2. Bianco is in his 24th season leading Ole Miss, where he’s racked up 900 of his wins. Bianco’s the 21st active coach to reach the milestone and just the 98th in NCAA history.
“You get here because of a lot of great players,” Bianco said. “We’ve had some great teams and great coaches. I don’t throw it, hit it or catch it.”
Bianco is the winningest coach ever at Ole Miss.
He passed Jake Gibbs for the distinction over a decade ago (2013). Bianco’s the second-winningest coach in SEC history behind his mentor, and league legend, Skip Bertman.
Ole Miss (21-18, 6-12 SEC) has 18 postseason appearances under Bianco, including eight Super Regionals and two trips to the College World Series. The Rebels won their first national championship as the last team named to the NCAA Tournament in the summer of 2022.
He’s also helped 130 Rebels get drafted by MLB teams. Thirty-one have come over the last six seasons.
“This is a team (and) program accolade,” Bianco said. “You don’t do it without a fanbase that’s passionate to win and continues to show up. Everybody gets a piece of this.”
One thousand as a head coach, nine hundred as a Rebel. Congratulations @CoachMikeBianco! #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/jgarzamPIS
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 21, 2024
Ole Miss dropped Game 1 on Saturday, 7-2.
However, opening-day starter JT Quinn returned from a month-plus stint on the injured list (blisters, oblique) to help lift the Rebels in the series finale.
Ole Miss trailed 1-0 after three innings. An Ethan Lege homer and Will Furniss run-scoring single gave their Rebels the lead in the sixth. Andrew Fischer plated another with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Quinn earned his first win of the season in relief of starter Gunnar Dennis. Dennis went 4.0 innings and allowed an unearned run on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Quinn was credited with an unearned run, no hits, two strikeouts and two walks over his 1.2 innings. Austin Simmons and Brayden Jones handled the final 3.0 innings. Jones picked up his first save.
Fischer and Brayden Randle had two hits apiece to tie for the team lead. Georgia fell to 29-10 (9-9). Ole Miss next hosts North Alabama Tuesday at 11 a.m. CT.
