Rebels' 1B Jackson Ross Named SEC Player of The Week
OXFORD, Miss. -- After starting the 2024 season 2-4, the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team exploded this past weekend in their first home series of the year against the High Point Panthers. Ole Miss lost the first game of the series on Friday night but went on to outscore High Point 37-4 the rest of the weekend.
The Rebels' bats came alive on Saturday and Sunday, but first basemen Jackson Ross was hot the entire week and was recognized for his efforts on Monday when he was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week by D1Baseball.
In four games, the Lakeland, Fla., native went 8-for-11 at the plate and recorded five walks, four home runs, and 11 RBIs. Ross saved his best performance for Sunday's 25-2 thrashing of High Point, as the senior went 2-for-2 with three walks, one home run, and three RBIs.
Through eight games, Ross has batted .417 with 11 RBI, four big flies, nine walks, 10 runs scored, and just three strikeouts. Ross needed this week to get back into his groove, as he hit 2-for-13 during opening weekend against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.
The former transfer is relatively new to Oxford, but that has not stopped him from stepping into a leadership role early in the 2024 season. Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco praised Ross' leadership after Sunday's big win.
"[The players] call him Sergeant Ross," Bianco told reporters. "I don't know if that's just because of the leadership, it's some of that, but some of it is he's one of the older guys [in the locker room]. He's one of those guys that doesn't say a ton, but you can feel his presence and he commands a lot of respect the way he goes about his business.
"His work ethic, and the way he approaches the game every single day is very mature. He's got a ton of respect, not only on the field, but off it as well."
Sergeant Ross and the Rebels are now set to host the Little Rock Trojans at Swayze Field for some midweek action on Tuesday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. CT, and Ole Miss' starting pitcher has not been revealed yet.