PREVIEW: Three Matchups Await Ole Miss Baseball This Week
The Ole Miss Rebels are coming off a historic Sunday afternoon where the bats couldn't be stopped, accounting for 25 runs.
This was the first bright spot from a lineup that saw most players hitting below the Mendoza line (.200) on the season, so the Rebels look for more of the same to be in store for this week's action. Here is a look at the three matchups Ole Miss is prepping for this week.
Ole Miss Athletics
Tuesday (Little Rock)
The Little Rock Trojans travel to Oxford for the first of two midweek games for Ole Miss. The Trojans are 4-3 on the young season and are coming off a series win against Illinois State.
Little Rock will send Jack Cline to the hill on Tuesday, and the Rebs will trot out LHP Wes Mendes. This is the 27th meeting between these two programs and is the first road game of the season for the Trojans.
First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Wednesday (Missouri State)
The Rebels will have a quick turnaround as the Missouri State Bears travel to Swayze Field for the Wednesday night game.
The Bears are led by long-time coach Keith Guttin who announced that he will retire after the 2024 season. Guttin is a part of the 1,000-win club, and during the 2015 season, he became only the 41st manager to reach at least 1,100 wins.
Missouri State is coming off a series loss to Southern Miss and is 4-3 on the season. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Friday-Sunday (Iowa)
The Rebels will host one of the top programs in the Ben Ten this weekend as the Iowa Hawkeyes make the long journey down to Oxford.
Iowa is coming off of a rough weekend, getting swept in the Jacksonville College Baseball Classic. After dropping games to Auburn, Virginia, and Wichita State, the Hawkeyes will be hungry for a win against a top program like Ole Miss.
A player to look for is Brady Brecht, a RHP who has gone viral for hitting 104 mph with his fastball. In his two starts this season, he has amassed 22 strikeouts, eleven in each start.
Rebels will need to be ready for velo. First pitch on Friday is at 6:30 p.m. CT, and all the games will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
The Rebels have a chance to stay on track and pick up some wins against competitive ball clubs this week, and I will also be interested to see how Mike Bianco will handle the lineup.
Another thing to keep your eye on is the rotating door that seems to be at second base. Regan Burford, Ethan Lege and Brayden Randle have all seen time at second. Bo Gatlin can also play at second but has seen his action mostly in pinch-hitting and DH opportunities.