An in-state rivalry between two top 15 baseball teams will take place tonight in Oxford.
#4 Ole Miss (22-3) will host #14 Southern Miss (17-5) for a mid-week matchup with both teams attempting to prove that their hot starts are no fluke. Both the Rebels and the Golden Eagles are coming off of a weekend series where they won two of three; Ole Miss over #11 Texas A&M and USM over FAU.
While the Rebels ranked toward the bottom of most offensive categories in 2017, this year, they have shown steady improvement, which paired with a solid pitching staff has shown to be a winning formula for Ole Miss. At the plate, consistency has been the name of the game with six players hitting above .300, led by DH Chace Cockrell at .434 over 53 at-bats. Mike Bianco’s Rebels are ranked 8th in the SEC in hits, RBIs, and on-base percentage, but their 2.54 ERA is 1st in the conference.
The Rebel pitchers will need to be at their best as they face a Southern Miss team that is scoring nearly 9 runs a game. The Golden Eagles began the season with questions surrounding whether or not they could live up to the expectations after hosting a regional in 2017, and they have answered the bell so far. At 17-5, USM could burst into the national conversation with a win over the Rebels. Aiming to help them do just that is Luke Reynolds, who leads the team with a .369 average and six home runs.
Pitching Matchup:
OM: LHP Jordan Fowler – 3-0, 1.93 ERA
USM: RHP J.C. Keys – 1-2, 6.95 ERA
For Ole Miss, if this game comes down to a battle of the bullpens, they’ll feel confident with closer Dallas Woolfolk leading the SEC with 6 saves. Their bullpen is also highlighted by RHP Parker Caracci, who has struck out 33 batters against only 1 walk in 15.2 innings.
For USM, Keys has given up 10 runs in 13 innings, but hitters hold a .216 average against him. Even if Keys isn’t able to go deep in the game, they’ll rely on their high-powered offense to attempt to break through and get a win.
Weather:
A few clouds may be in the sky over Swayze field, but no rain is expected.
Time/Where to listen:
First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game can be heard on the Ole Miss and Southern Miss Radio Networks on Supertalk Mississippi.
