OXFORD, Miss. (Interstat) — The Mississippi Rebels, showcasing the offensive firepower that has defined their hot start, erupted for two big innings Friday to overpower the Evansville Purple Aces 14-2 in the first game of a doubleheader at Swayze Field.

The Rebels, improving to 14-2, were led by a breakout performance from left fielder Daniel Pacella, who broke out of a brief slump in emphatic fashion. After going hitless in his previous nine at-bats spanning three games, Pacella launched two three-run home runs, driving in six runs to power the Mississippi attack.

Evansville, which fell to 3-10, struck first in the opening inning. Leadoff hitter Harrison Tau singled, stole second and later scored on a two-run single by Drew McConnell for an early 2-0 lead. That advantage was short-lived, however, as Mississippi ace Cade Townsend settled in and the Rebel bats awoke.

Mississippi got one run back in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Campbell Reuter. Dom Decker tied the game 2-2 in the third inning with a solo home run to left field.

The game turned decisively in the bottom of the fourth. With two on and one out, Pacella connected for his first homer of the day, a three-run shot to left-center field off Evansville starter Max Hansmann to make it 5-2. After a double by Hunter Federico and a walk to Decker, Judd Utermark followed with a three-run blast of his own to center field, capping a six-run inning and extending the lead to 8-2.

The Rebels put the game out of reach with another six-run outburst in the fifth. Owen Paino drove in a run with a single before Pacella struck again, launching his second three-run homer of the game, this time to right field off reliever Drew Fieger. Later in the inning, Will Furniss added an RBI single to push the lead to 13-2.

Mississippi added an unearned run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Connor Goldin.

The Purple Aces, held to just three hits through the first six innings by Townsend and reliever Landon Waters, scratched across two runs in the seventh against reliever Nick Allen. Pinch-hitter Trenton Lombardo doubled and scored along with Mason McCue on a two-run double by McConnell.

Townsend earned the win, dominating over five innings. He allowed just one hit, the first-inning single, and struck out seven. Hansmann took the loss for Evansville, surrendering eight runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The most important part of the game was the bottom of the fourth inning, where Mississippi transformed a tight 2-2 contest into a commanding 8-2 lead. The back-to-back three-run home runs by Pacella and Utermark in that frame broke the game open, demoralizing the Evansville pitching staff and setting the tone for the remainder of the lopsided affair.

Utermark finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs, while Paino went 2 for 3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Decker reached base four times via a homer and three walks, scoring three runs.

For Evansville, McConnell drove in all four of the team’s runs in the doubleheader opener, going 1 for 3. Lombardo’s seventh-inning double was one of only three hits for the Purple Aces.

The victory extended Mississippi’s strong early-season form, while Evansville continued to struggle, having lost seven of its last eight games.

The teams were scheduled to complete the doubleheader Friday evening.