With their season opener against Nevada this Friday looming large, the Ole Miss Rebel baseball team and head coach Mike Bianco are getting set to go. Bianco released his projected starting lineup to the media today:
- C: Austin Fawley
- 1B: Will Furniss
- 2B: Dom Decker
- SS: Brayden Randle
- 3B: Judd Utermark
- RF: Daniel Pacella
- CF: Hayden Federico
- LF: Tristan Bissetta
- DH: Collin Reuter
Hunter Elliot will start on the mound for the Rebels on Friday, with Kade Townsend and Wil Libbert starting Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
From the bullpen, Bianco said we should expect to see a mix of arms with Hudson Calhoun and Taylor Rabe featuring as long relievers, with Landon Koenig and Landon Waters getting looks to close out games. There will also be opportunities for Walter Hooks, Owen Hancock and Noah Allen to come in and pitch in middle relief.
Off the bench Brett Mosely and Tate Sirmans will get opportunities to pinch hit and field, the coaching staff views both of them as plus defenders.
The Brotherhood of a Team
Bianco was giving high praise to the team mentality and culture of last year’s squad when asked about what he hopes to carry over this year. With fifty percent of the roster returning, it should be no surprise that the Rebels have a very tight-knit team and that has shown up throughout the challenges of the last few weeks.
While much of Oxford and the surrounding area was without power a pair of Rebels who share an apartment, Hayden Federico and Kade Townsend, were fortunate enough to not lose their electricity. They opened their house for their teammates and shared what they had.
Hunter Elliot was one of the up to nine people that shared the two-bedroom apartment in the wake of Fern. According to Hunter, the outstanding cuisine Federico prepared during the storm included a hearty dinner of buttered noodles and frozen chicken nuggets. Hayden Federico was not as enthusiastic about the pasta night saying, “Hunter talked about the pasta night. It wasn’t good.”
With a daunting schedule in front of them, the Rebels will depend on the chemistry of their team to help them pull through, in good times and bad, and capitalize on every opportunity they are given.
Weekend Schedule
The Rebels will be opening their season at home with a series against the Nevada Wolfpack. First pitch times are 4 PM on Friday and 1:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday. All games will be televised on the SEC Network+. As always, stay here for the latest on all things about your Ole Miss Rebels.
