OXFORD, Miss. – No. 2 Ole Miss used two grand slams, one in the fifth inning by Kevin Graham and another in the sixth inning by Tim Elko, to pull away from ULM, 11-1, Wednesday afternoon at Oxford-University Stadium and Swayze Field.
 
Sophomore Cole Cressend (0-1) made the start for ULM (1-6) and allowed just one run through four innings. He ran into trouble in the fifth inning before giving way to sophomore reliever Wyatt Blalock, who issued a bases-loaded walk to Elko to extend the Rebel (8-0) lead to 3-1 before Graham hit a grand slam to left center field on the next pitch to blow the game open, 7-1.
 
Cressend allowed five runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.
 
In the sixth inning, Ole Miss loaded the bases again with two outs. Elko belted a grand slam that cleared the batter's eye in center field to increase the lead to 11-1. The game ended after the top of the seventh due to the seven-inning run rule that was agreed upon by the coaches prior to the series.
 
ULM scored its only run in the fourth inning when sophomore Landon Cato walked. Senior Ryan Cupit reached on a two-base error by the right fielder to put runners on second and third with two outs. A balk allowed Cato to score for the 1-0 lead.
 
Jack Washburn (2-0) earned the win, throwing five innings, allowing an unearned run on one hit with four walks and seven strikeouts.
 
Senior Grant Schulz had both hits for ULM, including a double. Hayden Leatherwood had three hits for Ole Miss, while Elko had six RBIs.
 
ULM returns to Warhawk Field to open a three-game series against New Orleans at 6 p.m. Friday.