Ole Miss pitcher Austin Simmons exits series opener against Alabama early with an elbow injury
The allure of Austin Simmons coming to Ole Miss and being a dual-sport athlete saw the risk of that come into play on Thursday.
Entering the game in the fourth inning of the series opener against No. 23 Alabama, Simmons did not make it through one batter. After throwing a handful of pitches he exited the game as fast as he entered it with what Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco described as an elbow injury.
“(Simmons) felt something in his elbow and we just took him off the field,” Bianco said. “Doctor was here and checked him out and I’m sure a MRI coming at some point.”
The injury occurred five days after Simmons pitched twice in a doubleheader against Georgia in Athens. The left-hander threw 24 pitches in game one and then came into the series finale to throw 21 more pitches.
Simmons’ 11th and 12th appearances of the season did not seem to take anything out of him since last Saturday, according to Bianco. The Ole Miss quarterback participated in workouts of both sports during the week.
“He’s felt great. Felt terrific,” Bianco said. “He’s done stuff over at the football facility. Through a short work on Tuesday. He always feels good. Those things aren’t things were they’re chronic. Sore, sore, sore and then something happens. Usually they don’t feel anything until something happens. Again, we’ll know more once we get the tests back.”
Simmons entered Thursday having pitched 14 innings with a 3.21 earned run average, allowing seven runs — five earned — while striking out 20 batters and walking 11 more.
Following the injury to Simmons the fourth inning continue to spiral out of control for Ole Miss.
Alabama went on to score nine runs in that frame, leading to a 12-0 win in seven innings to open up the pivotal Southeastern Conference series.
The Rebels (22-19, 6-13 SEC) were shutout for the second time this season and held to six hits. Part of the disastrous inning was another poor night by the defense, but this time the outfield was culprit.
Both Ethans, Lege and Groff, misplayed balls that led to runs. Groff lost a ball in the sky immediately off the bat and was about two feet too far from where it eventually landed in center field.
Ole Miss had one error on the night.
“There was a point in the game where the ball went up and you couldn’t see it much,” Groff said. “On mine, specifcially, I saw it hit the bat and I just kind of ran to an area but I didn’t see it again until it was about to hit the ground. It’s unfortunate but just seems it’s the way it’s rolling for us right now.”
Mitch Murrell came in to replace Simmons after the injury and allowed sevens runs, all earned, off five hits in two-thirds of an inning’s work. Ryne Rodriguez came in to work the final three innings to serve as his longest outing of the season.
Ole Miss and Alabama (27-15, 8-11) resume the series on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT
