Ole Miss and Mississippi State Prepare for Governor’s Cup Showdown

Ole Miss, ranked 17th by D1Baseball, will host Mississippi State, ranked 10th, in the Governor’s Cup at Trustmark Park in Pearl on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., according to university sources.

The Rebels enter the game with a 31-14 record and an 11-10 mark in Southeastern Conference play. They recently lost two of three games against No. 5 Georgia but are hitting well, with 14 home runs last week and leading the SEC in walks drawn with 256.

Ole Miss’s offense has shown strong April numbers, batting .274 with 115 runs, 28 home runs, and a slugging percentage of .485 over their last 15 games. Key contributors include Hayden Federico, who is hitting .391 in April, and Judd Utermark, who has five home runs this month. The Rebels also boast a deep pitching staff, led by reliever Walker Hooks, who has a 1.14 ERA over his last 11 outings and five saves this season.

Mississippi State, meanwhile, holds a 34-10 record and is 13-8 in SEC play. The Bulldogs are ranked as high as No. 5 in national polls and are riding an eight-game winning streak. Led by head coach Brian O’Connor, the team excels in strikeout-to-walk ratio and team ERA, ranking second and eighth nationally in those categories, respectively.

The Bulldogs feature offensive standouts such as Bryce Chance, batting .357, and power hitters Reese and Sullivan, who have combined for 23 home runs. Right-hander Brendan Sweeney will start for the Bulldogs, with a 6.46 ERA in 11 appearances this season. Sweeney last pitched on March 3, in a game against Southern Miss.

Both teams are focused on postseason aspirations, with Ole Miss aiming for NCAA regional and super regional play, and Mississippi State eyeing College World Series participation. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+ and broadcast on the Ole Miss Radio Network, according to university athletic officials.

Source: Original Article