Ole Miss Baseball (16-5, 1-2 SEC) is set to host Austin Peay (11-9, 2-1 ASUN) Tuesday at Swayze Field. The game will start at 4 p.m., having been moved up to prevent winter weather, according to university sources.
Last week, the Rebels went 1-3 on the road, including a win over No. 7 Southern Miss. They also split a series with No. 2 Texas, winning one game in extra innings with a grand slam by Tristan Bissetta in the ninth inning. Bissetta batted .412 last week with two home runs and six RBIs. He has four homers and 11 RBIs over his past nine games. His season batting average stands at .407, ranking seventh in the SEC.
Judd Utermark also posted strong numbers, hitting .424 over his last nine games with four home runs and 12 RBIs. He is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak. Utermark has 39 career home runs, just nine shy of the Ole Miss record. The Rebels’ pitching staff ranks fourth in the SEC and seventh nationally in strikeouts per nine innings at 12.1. Ole Miss will face Kentucky this weekend for its first home SEC series of the season.
Projected starting pitchers for Tuesday are RHP Owen Kelly (1-0, 4.26 ERA) for Ole Miss and LHP Chance Cox (0-1, 11.40 ERA) for Austin Peay. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+ with Jake Hromada and Keith Kessinger calling the action. Fans can also listen on the Ole Miss Radio Network with David Kellum and Brad Henderson.
Austin Peay is led by head coach Roland Fanning, now in his fourth season. The Governors are coming off a conference-opening series against Bellarmine, winning two games. Outfielders Zion Taylor and Paris Pridgen have been key contributors, with Taylor batting .385 and Pridgen leading the ASUN with 16 stolen bases. The Governors’ offense has shown power and speed, with several players hitting above .300.
Ole Miss continues to build on its recent success, with key players like Utermark and Fawley making history. Utermark is close to breaking the school’s all-time home run record, sitting at 39 career homers. The Rebels are also known for their powerful offense, setting a program record with 124 home runs in 2025. Their pitching staff has improved significantly under coach Joel Mangrum, ranking among the nation’s best in strikeouts.
