The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Opens Seven Game Road Trip
6/21/1999 | Baseball
March 2, 1999
1999 Ole Miss Baseball
Game #13; TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1999
ole miss (6-6) at uab (3-2)
JERRY D. YOUNG MEMORIAL FIELD;
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
OLE MISS OPENS SEVEN GAME ROAD TRIP TODAY VERSUS UAB
Ole Miss (6-6) will open its longest road swing of the season, a seven-game trip, today at UAB (3-2). Game time is set for 2:05 p.m. from Jerry D. Young Memorial Field. The game can be heard on Oxford's WQLJ 93.7 FM and over the internet at www.wqlj.com.
SCOUTING THE UAB BLAZERS
UAB is 3-2 on the year and hasn't played since losing to South Alabama - the team the Rebels hosted in a three-game series this past weekend - 10-5 in Mobile, Ala. Junior outfielder David Owen is leading the team in hitting with a .467 average (7-for-15) as three Blazers are hitting over .400. As a team UAB is hitting .273, while opponents are hitting .343 against Blazer-pitching. UAB is 0-1 against SEC teams this season, having lost 13-2 to Vanderbilt on Feb. 17 in Nashville.
SERIES HISTORY
Ole Miss leads the all-time series with UAB 10-8. The Rebels have won the last two meetings, including 9-8 last year in Oxford. UAB's last win against Ole Miss came in 1991, beating the Rebels 3-2. Third-year head coach Pat Harrison is 1-0 against the Blazers.
A LOOK AT THE UPCOMING ROAD SWING
Today's game at UAB will mark the start of a seven-game road trip for Ole Miss. The Rebels won't play again at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field until March 17 when they host Morehead State. After Tuesday's game with the Blazers, the upcoming road swing will take Ole Miss to Delta State on Saturday, Arkansas State on Tues., March 9, South Carolina for a three-game series Fri.-Sun., March 12-14, before concluding on Tues., March 16 against NE Louisiana. The Rebels are 2-4 outside of Swayze Field this season, losing two-of-three at Baylor, Feb. 12-14, and going 1-2 at the Winn-Dixie Showdown in New Orleans, Feb. 19-21.
REBELS FINISH HOMESTAND WITH A 3-2 MARK
Despite Sunday's 8-7 loss to South Alabama, the Rebels concluded their recent five-game homestand with a 3-2 record. Ole Miss split a two-game midweek series with SE Missouri State on Tuesday and Wednesday, and took two-of-three from Jaguars over the weekend.
HARRISON VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
Ole Miss has a 39-21 (.650) mark versus non-conference opponents under third-year head coach Pat Harrison. The Rebels are 6-6 against non-conference teams this season, and went 17-8 in 1997, and 16-7 in Harrison's first year in 1996.
REBELS ERRORLESS-INNING STREAK ENDS AT 34
Ole Miss had its errorless-inning streak snapped at 34 in the second inning of Sunday's game with South Alabama. The 34-inning streak dated back to the fourth inning of this past Wednesday's game against SE Missouri State. Ole Miss has played four errorless games this season, after recording nine in 53 games last season. The Rebels currently have a team fielding percentage of .970, having committed 13 errors in 439 fielding chances this season.
GOING YARD, PART II
Through 12 games this season, the Rebels are one home run ahead of last year's pace in which they hit a school record 98 home runs, despite losing its top two power hitters from last season in Jason Huisman (21 HRs) and Bobby Kielty (16). Ole Miss had hit 17 homers in its first 12 games last season, and have 18 this season. The Rebels hit seven in the three-game series with South Alabama this past weekend, including six in Saturday's 11-2 win.
IN A PINCH
Senior Alex Williamson made a name for himself last season as the Rebels' top pinch-hitter and has continued to thrive in that role this season. Williamson led the Rebels in pinch-hitting last going, 7-for-17 (.412) and is 3-for-4 this season to put him 10-for-21 on his career for a .476 average as a pinch-hitter. Williamson delivered a RBI pinch-hit single in the eighth inning Sunday against South Alabama.
STREAKS AND SUCH
* Dating back to last season, the Rebels have won 26 straight when leading after eight innings. Ole Miss was 20-0 last season when leading after eight innings of play and is 6-0 in 1999.
* Junior 1B Jude Voltz has the team's longest current hitting streak at five games. He has hit both of his season's home runs during the five-game streak. Senior OF/DH Chad Mead holds the team's longest hitting streak of the season, opening the year with an eight-game streak. Junior OF Chad Hill and senior OF/DH Alex Williamson both are currently riding four-game hitting streaks.
* Senior 2B Brad Henderson, Hill, sophomore SS Justin Huisman, and junior RF Michael Rosamond are all tied with a team-high five multiple-hit games this season. Henderson has four, three-hit games to his credit in 1999.
* Five players have started all 12 games in the same position this season: Henderson at second, Hill in center, Huisman at short, Rosamond in right, and Voltz at first. Mead has also started all 12 games this season, making 10 starts in left field and two on the mound.
* Hill is hitting .571 (8-for-14) since moving into the No. 2 spot four games ago on Wednesday against SE Missouri State. Hill batted in the lead-off position the first seven games of the season, and batted in the No. 8 spot last Tuesday against SEMO. Hill went 6-for-11 in this past weekend's three-game set with South Alabama and was 8-for-17 in five games this past week.
* Ole Miss recorded a season-high five doubles in Sunday's 8-7 loss to South Alabama. Sophomore 3B Robert Shelton hit two of Ole Miss' five two-base hits.
* Henderson tied an Ole Miss single-game record with nine assists in Saturday's game with South Alabama. Three others have recorded nine assists in a single-game: Steve Dillard versus LSU (4-24-71), Darryl Oliver against Memphis State (3-13-85) and Jason Huisman versus Southern California (3-16-96).
* Huisman recorded a career-high four hits in Saturday's game with USA, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. His four RBIs also tied his career- high set last season against Arkansas (3/27). Huisman also opened Sunday's game with a single, giving him five-straight hits before having that string snapped when he grounded into a double play in the third. Saturday's game was also the first two-home run game of his career. Huisman led the Ole Miss regulars with a .474 average in five games this past week, going 9-for-19 at the plate with two HRs and seven RBIs.
* Huisman is also 3-for-3 in save conversions this season. His three saves matches his total from last season when he led the Rebels in saves.
* RHP Jeff McAvoy tied his career-high with eight strike outs in Friday's contest versus South Alabama. McAvoy also fanned eight against Memphis last Feb. 28 in a game played in Millington, Tenn.
* Ole Miss is 3-3 in games decided by two runs or less this season, including 0-2 in one-run contests. Both of the one-run games the Rebels have been involved in this season, came during this past week's five-game homestand. Ole Miss lost 1-0 to SE Missouri State on Wednesday and 8-7 to South Alabama on Sunday in the final game of this weekend's three-game series.
* The fourth inning has been the Rebels big inning, so far this season, having outscored their opponents 23-11.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR
Ole Miss is one-game behind last year's pace as the Rebels were 7-5 through 12 games in 1998. However, the 1999 schedule has seen the Rebels play 10 games against teams that appeared in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Ole Miss lost 4-1 to Memphis on Feb. 28 at the Service Academies Spring Classic in Millington, Tenn., during its 12th game of 1998.
ELEVEN TEAMS FROM THE 1998 NCAA TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHT REBELS' 1999 SLATE
Ole Miss will face 11 schools this season that qualified for the 1998 NCAA Tournament, including College World Series participants Florida, LSU and Mississippi State. Ole Miss has played four of those teams, so far, this season. The Rebels opened their season with a three-game series at Baylor, Feb. 12-14, before playing NCAA Tournament participant Tulane and College World Series participant LSU at the Winn-Dixie Showdown, Feb. 19-21. Ole Miss hosted two NCAA Tournament teams this past week, playing SE Missouri State in a two-game, midweek series and South Alabama in a three-game series this past weekend. The Rebels are 4-6 this season against teams that appeared in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Other 1998 NCAA Tournament teams the Rebels will play in 1999 are: South Carolina (Mar. 12-14), Auburn (April 23-25), Alabama (April 30-May 2), and Arkansas (May 7-9).
ROSAMOND, HENDERSON EARN PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Senior 2B Brad Henderson and junior OF Michael Rosamond have been named 1999 preseason All-Americans. Henderson, a second team All-SEC pick last season, was named to the third team Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America team by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, and Rosamond earned third team preseason All-America honors by Baseball America.
THE LAST TIME OUT
Sunday- South Alabama 8, Ole Miss 7
Ole Miss jumped out to a 4-0 first-inning lead, but South Alabama battled back to take an 8-7 decision and salvage the final game of a three-game series. Seth Taylor went 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs for the Jaguars and Matt Silvey hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score the game-winning run in the ninth inning. The Rebel sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning and Robert Shelton's two-run double highlighted the four-run first. South Alabama responded with four runs in the top of the second to tie the game at 4-4. Each team then scored one run apiece in the third inning, setting up the dramatic finish. The game went into the top of the seventh tied at 5-5 when South Alabama scored a run to break the tie. After Ole Miss was unable to respond in the bottom of the seventh, South Alabama increased its advantage to 7-5 in the eighth inning when Tim Merritt singled and later scored on Taylor's single. The Rebels cut the lead to 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning, but was unable to push across the game-tying run. Ronnie Goodwin (0-2) suffered the loss for Ole Miss, allowing one run on one hit in 1 1/3 innings.
POSITION PLAYER THUMBNAILS
1- Brandon Skelton (Fr., C): Has appeared in one game ... saw his first career action on Feb. 20 vs. New Orleans ... went 0-for-1.
Sunday: Did not play.
2- Kris Cox (Fr., OF): Played in four games ... is 1-for-2 with two runs scored ... saw his first career action on Feb. 20 vs. New Orleans ... went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Sunday: Inserted in the 8th as a pinch-runner for Alex Williamson
4- Ryan Davis (Soph., INF): Has appeared in eight games ... had his first at-bat of the season Saturday vs. South Alabama, flying out to right.
Sunday: Defensive replacement at SS for Justin Huisman in the 9th when Huisman went to pitch.
5- Banks Robinson (Fr., INF): Played in four games, making one start at DH ... is 2-for-2 on the season ... has also walked twice ... has scored one run ... singled off of Baylor's Justin Taylor in his first collegiate bat on Feb. 12.
Sunday: Did not play.
6- Jude Voltz (Jr., 1B): A starter in all 12 games this season at first base ... is batting .311 (14-for-45) with two HRs and eight RBIs ... also has three doubles, a triple and has scored seven runs ... homered in back-to-back games against South Alabama this past Friday and Saturday ... currently has the team's longest hitting streak at five games ... is fielding at a .991-clip, committing just one error in 109 chances ... is hitting .409 (9-for-22) with runners on base ... named to the Winn-Dixie Showdown All-Tournament team after going 7-for-12 in three games.
Sunday: 1-for-5, 2B; started at 1B
7- Burney Hutchinson (Fr., OF): Has played in seven games, making two starts ... is 0-for-6 with a RBI.
Sunday: Pinch-hit in the 9th, delivering a Sac-fly to center.
8- Clint Farrar (Fr., INF): Has played in five games, making one start ... is 2-for-9 at the plate this season with a double and two runs scored ... made his first career start on Tuesday, going 1-for-4 with a run scored while serving as the DH.
Sunday: Did not play.
9- Adam Brown (Fr., INF): Has played in six games ... is 1-for-2 with a HR, a RBI and three runs scored ... homered in his first collegiate at-bat on Feb. 20 versus New Orleans at the Winn-Dixie Showdown.
Yesterday: Pinch-ran for Robert Shelton in the eighth.
10- Chad Hill (Jr., OF): Started in center all 12 games ... batted the first seven games in the lead-off spot ... is 8-for-14 in the last four games since moving into the No. 2 position in the order to raise his average to .319 (15-for-47) ... has one triple, three RBIs and has scored nine runs ... is 2-for-3 in stolen bases ... is 8-for-18 (.444) with runners on base ... is also batting .455 (5-for-11) with men in scoring position ... currently riding a four-game hitting streak ... went 6-for-11 in this past weekend's three-game set with South Alabama.
Sunday: 3-for-5, 2B; started in CF.
13- Alex Williamson (Sr., OF): Has played in seven games, making two starts as the DH ... is 5-for-10 with two RBIs and a run scored ... is 3-for-4 as a pinch-hitter this season, making him 10-for-21 (.476) in his career at Ole Miss ... currently riding a four-game hitting streak.
Sunday: 1-for-1, RBI; Pinch-hit for Nugen in the 8th.
14- Craig Nugen (Jr., OF): Appeared in five games, making two starts ... is 3-for-9 with a HR, three RBIs and one run scored ... hit his first collegiate HR on Feb. 20 versus New Orleans at the Winn-Dixie Showdown, while making his first collegiate start.
Sunday: 1-for-2; Replaced Robinson as the DH in the 3rd inning.
15- Carl Lafferty (Soph., C): Played in eight games, making six starts at catcher ... is off to a slow start, batting .182 (4-for-22) with a HR and a RBI ... also has one double and has scored two runs ... hit his first home run of the season on Saturday with a solo shot in the fifth ... currently on a season-long three-game hitting streak.
Sunday: Did not play.
16- Brad Henderson (Jr., 2B): An All-SEC and All-American candidate ... a starter at second base in all 12 games ... has batted in the lead-off spot the last five games after hitting in the No. 2 position the first seven games of the year ... is hitting .340 (17-for-50) with no HRs and four RBIs ... is tied for the team-lead in doubles with Michael Rosamond at five ... also has a triple and has scored seven runs ... is 10-for-20 when leading of an inning ... named to the Winn-Dixie Showdown All-Tournament team ... tied with Chad Hill, Justin Huisman and Michael Rosamond for the team-lead with five multiple-hit games ... tied an Ole Miss single-game record with nine assists in Saturday's game versus South Alabama ... has four three-hit games this season ... has 214 career hits, ranking sixth on the Rebel career hit list, and four behind Kyle Gordon (1984-87) in fifth-place ... is four runs away from tying Jason Huisman (1995-98) for third-place on the school's career list ... recorded his 41st career double on Saturday to tie him with Gordon and Chris Snopek (1990-92) for sixth-place on the Rebels' career list for doubles ... also ranks fourth on the school's career list for home runs with 29 and is eighth in career RBI with 116.
Sunday: 0-for-4; started at 2B.
17- J.T. Harrison (Sr., INF): Has played in seven games, making three starts at third base ... is 1-for-12 at the plate with a HR, two RBI and two runs scored.
Sunday: Defensive replacement at 3B for Robert Shelton in the ninth inning.
18- Michael Rosamond (Jr., OF): An All-SEC and All-America candidate ... started all 12 games in right field ... leads the Ole Miss regulars in hitting with a .383 average (18-for-47) with two HRs and nine RBIs ... also leads the team in runs scored (14), hits (18) and triples (3) ... is also tied with Brad Henderson, Chad Hill and Justin Huisman with a team-high five multiple-hit games ... is hitting a team-high .450 (9-for-20) with runners on base, and is hitting a team-best .467 (7-for-15) with runners in scoring position ... garnered All-Tournament accolades at the Winn-Dixie Showdown ... set an Ole Miss school single-game record and tied the SEC and NCAA single-game marks with three triples against UNO on Feb. 20.
Sunday: 1-for-4, RBI; started in RF.
22-Robert Shelton (Soph., 3B): Appeared in all 12 games, making nine starts at third base ... batting .385 (10-for-26) the last 10 games with two HRs and nine RBIs ... for the year, is hitting .355 (11-for-31) with three HRs and 10 RBIs ... tied with Justin Huisman and John Massey for the team lead in home runs... also has four doubles and seven runs scored ... recorded his second career grand slam in the eighth inning on Feb. 13 at Baylor.
Sunday: 2-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 2Bs; started at 3B.
30- Justin Huisman (Soph., INF): Started all 12 games at shortstop ... has been the hottest Rebel the past five games, batting .474 (9-for-19) with two HRs and seven RBIs ... is hitting .333 (15-for-45) with three HRs and eight RBIs for the year ... tied with Robert Shelton and John Massey for the team-lead in HRs ... also has one double and has scored six runs ... recorded a career-high four hits in Saturday's game vs. South Alabama ... also tallied his career first two home run-game on Saturday against the Jaguars ... had five-straight hits against South Alabama over the course of two games, going 4-for-4 Saturday and opening Sunday's game with a RBI single in the first inning ... went 6-for-12 in the three-game versus the Jaguars.
Sunday: 2-for-5, RBI; started at SS.
33- John Massey (Soph., C): Has played in 11 games, starting 10 ... has started six games behind the plate and four as the DH ... is hitting .325 (13-for-40) with three HRs and a team-high 11 RBIs ... is tied with Justin Huisman and Robert Shelton for the team-lead in home runs ... has scored six runs ... has four multiple-hit games this season ... tied an Ole Miss school record with three HRs at Baylor in the season-opener on Feb. 12, going 4-for-5 with six RBI and scoring three runs.
Sunday: 1-for-4; started at C.
44- Chad Mead (Sr., OF): Has played in and started all 12 games this season ... has made 10 starts in left field and two on the mound ... is hitting .286 (14-for-49) with a HR and nine RBIs ... also has four doubles and has scored 11 runs ... opened the season with a career-long eight-game hitting streak.
Yesterday: 2-for-4; started in LF.
HEAD COACH PAT HARRISON
The 1999 season will mark head coach Pat Harrison's third season at the helm of the Ole Miss baseball program. Harrison has a 57-59 record at Ole Miss, and has an overall career record of 191-176-2 in seven seasons as a head coach at The Master's College (1988-90), Pepperdine (1995-96) and Ole Miss. The Rebels made significant strides in their second season under Harrison, posting Ole Miss' first winning record since 1995 with a 30-23 mark. Harrison coached two seasons at Pepperdine prior to coming to Ole Miss, and compiled a two-year mark of 69-38-1. He was named the 1995 West Coast Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Waves to the WCC title and a berth in the NCAA West Regional with a 36-19-1 record.
IN THE BULLPEN
No. Player
3 Dan McShea (Jr., RHP): Has appeared in five games, making one start ... is 1-0 with a 4.72 ERA and has one save in 13 1/3 innings pitched ... pitched three innings of scoreless relief on Saturday to earn his first save of the season, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out three ... made his only start of the season Tuesday against SE Missouri State, striking out a career-high seven in five innings to earn the win.
Last Relief Appearance: vs. South Alabama (2/27), 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, SV.
8 Clint Farrar (Fr., RHP): Made his first career appearance on Feb. 20 vs. UNO at the Winn-Dixie Showdown ... pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
Last Relief Appearance: vs. New Orleans (2/20), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, ND
12 Glen Morris (Fr., LHP): Has made four appearances ... is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA ... worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits ... ha walked just one while striking out three ... turned in a season-long 2 2/3 innings against South Alabama Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out a season-high two. Last Relief Appearance: vs. South Alabama (2/28), 2.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, ND
14 Craig Nugen (Jr., RHP): Has not seen time on the mound this season.
24 Nathan Lyons (Fr., LHP): Made his second appearance of the season Sunday vs. South Alabama ... worked a season-long three innings,
allowing a run on three hits and struck out a season-high three ... is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 4 innings of work in two appearances ... has allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and has struck out four while walking only one. Last Relief Appearance: vs. South Alabama (2/28), 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, ND
26 Ryan Bukvich (Jr., RHP): Has made three starts and one relief appearance ... is 0-1 with a 9.24 ERA in 12.2 innings of work, allowing 14 runs, 13 earned, on 12 hits and 10 walks, while striking out six ... best outing of the year came in his first start of the year against Baylor on Feb. 13, yielding four earned runs on one hit, three walks and one hit batter and struck out one in five innings of work while suffering the loss ... after allowing the first four batters he faced to reach base, Bukvich went on to retire 12 in a row ... made his first relief appearance of the year last Wednesday vs. SE Missouri State, throwing two scoreless innings ... started Sunday's game vs. South Alabama, taking a no decision.
Last Relief Appearance: vs. SE Missouri State (2/24), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, ND
30 Justin Huisman (So., RHP): Has made four appearances and has converted on three-of-three save opportunities ... picked up saves last week against SE Missouri State on Tuesday and South Alabama on Friday ... his three saves in 1999 ties his total from last season in which he led the team ... is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 2 1/3 innings of work ... hasn't allowed a hit or a walk and has struck out three. Last Relief Appearance: vs. South Alabama (2/28), 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, ND.
32 Ronnie Goodwin (So., RHP): Has appeared in four games ... is 0-2 with a 10.29 ERA, yielding eight earned runs on 11 hits and two walks ... has recorded four strikeouts ... took the loss in Sunday's game vs. South Alabama, allowing a run on one hit and a walk in 1 1/3 innings ... pitched three solid innings against Tulane on Feb. 19, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out three while suffering the loss ... three innings against the Green Wave was his longest outing of the season. Last Relief Appearance: vs. South Alabama (2/28), 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO, L.
34 Jeff McAvoy (Jr., RHP): Has made three starts and one relief appearance ... is 3-1 with a 3.63 ERA ... leads the team with 22 1/3 innings pitched and 19 strikeouts ... opponents are hitting .207 against him and only .133 with runners on base ... only relief appearance came on Feb. 16 against Austin Peay, working four innings and allowing two runs on three hits to earn the win ... suffered lone loss of the year against LSU at the Winn-Dixie Showdown on Feb. 21, pitching seven solid innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits, three walks and two hit bats men ... worked a season-long 7 1/3 innings this past Friday vs. South Alabama, allowing one run on five hits and no walks and tying a career- high with eight strikeouts. Last Relief Appearance: vs. Austin Peay (2/16), 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, W.
43 Cooper Campbell (Fr., RHP): Appeared in five games ... is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in six innings of work, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out six ... opponents are hitting .217 against him ... turned in his longest outing of the season on Tuesday against SE Missouri State, throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk, and fanning two. Last Relief Appearance: vs. South Alabama (2/26), 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, ND
