OLE MISS — The University of Mississippi’s baseball team, ranked 25th nationally, is set to participate in the 2026 Bruce Bolt College Classic in Houston, Texas. The Rebels are off to their best start since 2022, with a 9-0 record through the season’s first nine games, their best since 2008. The team’s top players include Judd Utermark, who leads the SEC in home runs and is tied for the NCAA lead, and Will Furniss, who has drawn 12 walks and hit a walk-off home run in a recent game.
Ole Miss will face three teams over the weekend: Baylor (5-3), Ohio State (5-2), and No. 9 Coastal Carolina (6-2). The Rebels will play Baylor on Feb. 27 at 3:05 p.m., Ohio State on Feb. 28 at 11:05 a.m., and Coastal Carolina on March 1 at 10:05 a.m. All games will be streamed on Astros.com and the Astros’ YouTube channel, with radio coverage available on the Ole Miss Radio Network.
The team has shown strong offensive production, including a 13-3 win over Southeast Missouri State. Pitching has also been effective, with the staff posting a 2.64 ERA, third-best in the SEC. Freshman JP Robertson earned a win after striking out eight batters in 4.1 innings during his debut. Utermark’s power-hitting and Umermark’s walk discipline have contributed significantly to the team’s early success.
Baylor, Ohio State, and Coastal Carolina each bring their own strengths. Baylor, under coach Mitch Thompson, has a 5-3 record, led by infielder Travis Sanders and pitcher Ethan Calder. Ohio State, coached by Justin Haire, has a 5-2 start with notable contributions from Mason Eckelman and Miles Vandenheuvel. Coastal Carolina, a recent College World Series runner-up, begins its season with a 6-2 record, led by senior hitter Dean Mihos and pitcher Case Bosch, who has yet to give up an earned run this season.
Ole Miss’s Judd Utermark is closing in on the school’s all-time home run record, sitting just 13 shy of the top spot. The Rebels return to Swayze Field next week for games against Memphis, North Alabama, and Evansville, continuing their strong start to the season.
