Ole Miss Baseball Prepares for Top-10 Rivalry With Mississippi State

Oxford, Miss. — The University of Mississippi’s baseball team, ranked 18th nationally, is set to host No. 6 Mississippi State this weekend in a SEC rivalry series. The games are scheduled from Friday through Sunday at Swayze Field, with the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Ole Miss enters the series with a 19-7 record overall and a 3-3 mark in conference play. The Rebels recently suffered a 6-2 loss to Memphis on Tuesday and began their home schedule with a 16-0 run, the best in program history. Key players include Tristan Bissetta, who hit his 13th and 14th home runs last week and ranks second in the SEC in homers. Judd Utermark also contributes with 10 home runs this season.

Mississippi State, meanwhile, holds a 21-4 record and is 4-2 in SEC games. Under coach Brian O’Connor — who previously led Virginia — the Bulldogs are riding a five-game winning streak and are nationally ranked in the top 10 in 12 statistical categories. Bryce Chance leads the team with a .452 batting average, and ace pitcher Tomas Valincius has a 1.04 ERA with 47 strikeouts.

This marks the first time since 2021 that both teams are ranked and face each other in Oxford. The series will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and SEC Network, with radio coverage available on the Ole Miss Radio Network.

Ole Miss pitcher Hunter Elliott has moved into fifth on the school’s career strikeout list with 260 and is expected to climb further during the series. The Rebels also boast strong offensive numbers, including a first-inning scoring edge and a perfect 14-0 record when scoring in the opening frame.

Both teams aim to build momentum in SEC play, with Ole Miss seeking to capitalize on its recent offensive performances and Mississippi State looking to extend its winning streak and maintain its national ranking.

Source: Original Article