This weekend, Swayze Field in Oxford, Mississippi, will be the site of an electrifying SEC showdown as the No. 25 Ole Miss Rebels take on the No. 24 LSU Tigers in a crucial three-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for Friday night at 6:30 p.m., with all games available for streaming on SEC Network+.
Recent Performances
Ole Miss (23-11, 5-7 SEC) comes into this series riding high after an impressive 11-1 victory over Alcorn State on Tuesday night. Last weekend, they showcased their resilience by winning two out of three games against then-No. 21 Florida, solidifying their place among the top teams in the nation.
The Rebels’ offense has been powered by third baseman Judd Utermark, who has hit an astonishing 13 home runs this season and boasts a total of 43 career home runs—placing him third all-time in program history. He is chasing Kyle Gordon’s record of 48 career homers and will be looking to add to his tally this weekend.
In addition to Utermark’s power hitting, second baseman Dom Decker leads not only the team but also the entire SEC with an impressive 36 walks this season. His ability to get on base consistently adds depth to Ole Miss’s lineup and creates opportunities for scoring.
On the other hand, LSU (22-12 overall, 6-6 SEC) enters Oxford with its own set of challenges and triumphs this season. After starting strong with eight consecutive wins—including six games where they scored at least ten runs—the Tigers faced some unexpected setbacks early in March against unranked opponents like Northeastern and UL-Lafayette.
However, since those losses, LSU has bounced back well by going 2-1 against Kentucky and Tennessee in recent weeks. The Tigers are led offensively by a trio of hitters batting above .300: Derek Curiel, Jake Brown, and Cade Arrambide. Curiel stands out with his consistency at the plate; he has recorded a remarkable total of 50 hits so far this season—ranking third in the SEC.
Brown and Arrambide have proven themselves as formidable power hitters as well; Brown leads LSU with an impressive 43 RBIs while smashing 13 home runs this year. Arrambide recently made headlines after hitting four homers in one game against Tennessee—a performance that played a key role in securing that series win for LSU.
Pitching Matchups
The pitching rotations will be critical for both teams as they look to gain momentum throughout this series.
For Ole Miss:
- Friday: Hunter Elliott
- Saturday: Cade Townsend
- Sunday: Taylor Rabe
For LSU:
- Friday: Casan Evans
- Saturday: William Schmidt
- Sunday: Grant Fontenot
Each pitcher will play a vital role in determining which team can assert dominance over the weekend and secure important conference victories.
Game Schedule
- Friday: Game One at 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday: Game Two at 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: Game Three at 1:30 p.m.
All games will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
