This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Oxford, Miss. • He has heard the sound more than a hundred times — cowhide hitting leather — but never did it sound quite as sweet.
In the second inning against Ole Miss, sophomore pitcher Jayson Rose caught Colby Bortles swinging — his first strikeout of the night, but his record-setting 103rd strikeout of the season.
With the whiff, Rose became Utah's single-season record holder in Ks after leading the Pac-12 in that category during the regular season. In all, Rose threw four strikeouts to bring the record total to 106.
Rose didn't earn a decision in his start, but not for lack of trying. He threw 112 pitches in six innings of work, with four hits and four walks.
Unusual out
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ole Miss had a runner on who wasn't careful enough while retracing his steps.
Junior outfielder J.B. Woodman got the second hit for the Rebels with a one-out single. He took off when his teammate Henri Lartigue had a shallow blooper to center, but Utah outfielder Andre Jackson slid in for a diving catch.
Unfortunately for Woodman, his haste cost him: He had tagged second rounding toward third, but didn't touch it on the way back to first. Though he reached first before Jackson's throw, he was called out for not touching second on his return trip.
Regional flavor
Ole Miss has Utah scouted out more than just on the diamond.
Among the Oxford-University Stadium offerings are four footlong hot dogs inspired by each regional participant's culinary tradition. Utah's frankfurter covers the basics: It's topped by "funeral potatoes" has cheese, potato chips and fry sauce.
kgoon@sltrib.com Twitter: @kylegoon