Rebels To Host Southern Miss

March 7, 2005

OXFORD, Miss. - No. 16 (Baseball America) Ole Miss will continue its 18-game home stand Tuesday evening when the Rebels (9-3) host in-state rival Southern Miss (9-2) at 6:30 p.m., at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.

Ole Miss is currently riding a season-best four-game win streak after sweeping a three-game series from Purdue this past weekend. The Rebels outscored the Boilermakers 47-16 in the three games, setting a school record for the most runs scored in a three-game series. Ole Miss will also enter Tuesday's game having scored 10 or more runs in four straight games for the first time in the program's history.

The Rebels are hitting .351 as a team and have nine regulars hitting .300 or better. Sophomore outfielder Mark Wright leads the team with a .419 average. Junior outfielder Brian Pettway is hitting .415 and is riding a career-best 12-game hit streak, and sophomore third baseman Chris Coghlan is hitting at a .404-clip.

Pettway is also tied with junior first baseman Stephen Head for the team lead in home runs with four. Head leads the Rebels with 18 RBI.

Ole Miss is scheduled to send junior left-hander Matt Maloney to the mound. Maloney has made five appearances, including two starts, and is 2-0, wint one save, and a 0.56 ERA. He earned the decision in starts against Belmont, Feb. 22, and Northwestern State last Wednesday.

Southern Miss is also on a season-long four-game win streak, after defeating UNC-Wilmington (16-4), Indiana State (2-1) and Lamar (5-2) this past weekend at the Cardinal Classic, hosted by Lamar.

The Golden Eagles are hitting .304 as a team, led by senior third baseman Beau Griffin's .370 average. Junior first baseman Marc Maddox is batting .325 and leads USM with three home runs. Senior catcher Brad Willcutt has recorded a team-high 15 RBI.

Redshirt freshman right-hander Barry Bowden is expected draw the start on the mound for the Golden Eagles. He is 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts this season.

As a staff, USM has a 3.42 team ERA and opponents are hitting .266 against them with 11 home runs.

The Golden Eagles are fielding .974 as a team, having been charged with 12 errors in 11 games.

Southern Miss won all three meetings between the two teams last season and has won four straight in the series.

Ole Miss holds a 61-35 advantage in the all-time series.

GAME INFORMATION
DATE: Tuesday, March 8
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
STADIUM: Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field (3,500)
TICKETS: Tickets are available can be purchased at the Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field Ticket Office, which will open at 5:30 p.m.

TV- None
RADIO- WTNM Supertalk Mississippi 105.5 FM
INTERNET: Live audio and live in-game statistics will be available at www.OleMissSports.com.

SERIES RECORD: Ole Miss leads 61-35
LAST YEAR: Southern Miss won season series 3-0.

THE COACHES:
Southern Miss -- Corky Palmer (USM, 1977) is in his eighth season as the head coach of the Golden Eagles, compiling a 266-168 (.613 winning pct.) ... He is 9-9 in his career versus Ole Miss.

Ole Miss -- Mike Bianco (LSU, 1989) is in his fifth season with the Rebels. He is 159-93-1 (.630 winning pct.) at Ole Miss and has a career record of 259-164-1 (.612 winning pct.) in his eighth year as a collegiate head coach. Bianco is 4-6 in his career versus Southern Miss.

NATIONAL RANKINGS
Southern Miss - NR
Ole Miss - #16- Baseball America; #21 - Collegiate Baseball

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCH-UP
USM- Barry Bowden (Fr., RHP, 1-0, 1.64 ERA)
UM- Matt Maloney (Jr., LHP, 2-0, 0.56 ERA)
NOTING MALONEY: Has made a team-high five appearances, including two starts ... Earned the win in starts against Belmont (2/22) and Northwestern State (3/2) ... Enters the week ranked fourth in the SEC in ERA (0.56) ... Struck out a season-high seven in 5.0 innings against the Demons (5 H, 1 R, 3 BB) ... Is 3-3, with one save, and a 3.64 ERA (64.1 IP, 26 ER) in 16 career appearances, including nine starts.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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