The Ole Miss Rebels are riding high as they prepare for their upcoming game against Southern Miss on Tuesday night. With seven wins in their last eight games, including a recent sweep of LSU, the Rebels have found their rhythm at just the right time.
During the series against LSU, Ole Miss showcased their offensive prowess by scoring a staggering 26 runs and racking up 32 hits—both records for any SEC series this season. This explosive performance has propelled them to a solid record of 26-11 overall and 8-7 in SEC play.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Several players have stepped up significantly for Ole Miss during this successful stretch:
- Hayden Federico: The standout player hit .714 (5-for-7) last week with six walks and three hit-by-pitches, contributing four RBIs and three runs scored.
- Owen Paino: Making waves with his two home runs last week, Paino also drove in eight runs, showcasing his power with a slugging percentage of 1.083.
- Walker Hooks: Dominating on the mound, Hooks has recorded three wins and two saves over his last seven appearances while maintaining an impressive ERA of 1.06.
Additionally, Dom Decker leads the SEC in walks with 38 this season, while Hunter Elliott ranks fifth in strikeouts with an impressive total of 68 punchouts.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The projected pitching matchup features RHP JP Robertson (2-1, 3.71 ERA) for Ole Miss going up against LHP Bruce Littleton (1-0, 1.04 ERA) from Southern Miss. This duel could be pivotal in determining the outcome of the game.
SOUTHERN MISS UNDER PRESSURE
Southern Miss enters this contest with a record of 25-11 and is ranked as high as No. 20 nationally according to Baseball America. Head coach Christian Ostrander has made significant strides since taking over the program two years ago, leading them to NCAA Regional finals both seasons.
However, following a strong start that included an impressive eleven-game winning streak after losing their season opener to UC Santa Barbara, Southern Miss has faced challenges lately—including a series loss to unranked Louisiana.
Despite these setbacks, key hitters like Joey Urban (.324 batting average) and Kyle Morrison (11 home runs) continue to be bright spots for the Golden Eagles’ offense.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Southern Miss boasts several batters hitting above .300 entering Week 10 of the season:
- Joey Urban: A senior outfielder who’s not only consistent but also capable of hitting for power.
- Kyle Morrison: The team leader in home runs who complements Urban’s efforts well.
Davis Gillespie and Seth Smith are also contributing significantly to the team’s offensive stats this season.
With four different starting pitchers utilized in their last four midweek matchups, it will be interesting to see how Coach Ostrander approaches this game against Ole Miss.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Fans can catch all action live through the Ole Miss Radio Network, featuring David Kellum providing play-by-play commentary alongside analyst Brad Henderson. The first pitch is set from Trustmark Park in Pearl, MS at 6 p.m