The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss to Compete in Service Academies Spring Classic
6/21/1999 | Baseball
Feb. 25, 1998
OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss will look to carry the momentum from come-from-behind 9-8 victory on Tuesday into this weekend's Service Academies Spring Classic in Millington, Tenn. The Rebels will open the four-day, pool-play tournament against Army at 4 p.m. at USA Stadium.
Ole Miss is 6-3 on the year following a 9-8 come-from-behind win on Tuesday over UAB. The Cadets are coming off a 26-20-1 season a year ago and have not played a game yet this season.
Sophomore right-hander Joey Cramblitt is scheduled to be the Rebels' starting pitcher on Thursday. Cramblitt is 2-0 this season with a 1.74 ERA in 10.1 inning of work. Cramblitt started last Wednesday's game against Freed-Hardeman. He recorded the victory with six shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.
Cramblitt also pitched a 1/3 of an inning in relief during Sunday's 3-2 loss at current No. 15 Texas A&M.
Army is scheduled to start senior right-hander Kevin Heffernan who was 4-4, with three saves, with a 3.72 ERA and struck out 42 in 67.2 innings of work.
The Cadets return seven position starters from last season. Senior shortstop Mike Scioletti is the team's top returning hitter after batting .415 with 12 home runs and 67 RBI a year ago.
The Rebels currently have six players with 15 or more at-bats hitting over .300. Freshman third baseman Robert Shelton leads the regulars with a .435 average. Senior shortstop Jason Huisman is batting .421 and leads the team in home runs (3) and RBI (13). Huisman also just had a 19-game hitting streak, dating back to last season, snapped on Sunday at Texas A&M.
Ole Miss will also games against West Virginia, Friday at 4 p.m., and Memphis, Saturday at 6 p.m. The Rebels will then play either Air Force, Army or Navy on Sunday at either 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Senior Lance Tolbert (1-0, 1.50 ERA) is expected to start on Friday against West Virginia and sophomores Jeff McAvoy (1-1, 6.00 ERA) and Ryan Bukvich (1-0, 3.21 ERA) are scheduled to pitch Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
