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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Fourth-Ranked Rebels Open 2008 Season With Minnesota On Friday
2/21/2008 | Baseball
It will be the first game of the season for both teams as the NCAA has instituted a uniform start date this season. It will also kick off the first of a 10-game home stand to open the season for the Rebels.
“We’re excited about opening the season and can’t wait to take the field to face someone who has on a different uniform,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “
Ole Miss and
The Rebels enter the season coming off a third-straight 40-win season as Ole Miss posted a 40-25 record in 2007 and advanced to a third straight Super Regional. The squad looks to build on that performance as the Rebels return seven-of-nine starters from last year’s squad and most of the pitching staff that helped the Rebels get within a series of the College World Series.
Taking the mound for Ole Miss on Friday night will be right-hander Lance Lynn, a preseason All-America selection and candidate for both the Brooks Wallace Award and the Golden Spikes Award for national player of the year. Lynn posted an 8-5 record as a sophomore that included two complete-game shutouts and wins over then No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 4 South Carolina. He is also the top returning pitcher in the SEC as he leads all returning pitchers in ERA, opposing batting average, strikeouts, innings pitched and games started.
Rounding out the starting rotation for the Rebels are junior right-hander Cody Satterwhite on Saturday and sophomore southpaw Nathan Baker on Sunday. Satterwhite, an All-SEC selection as a closer last season, returns to the starter role for his junior campaign while Baker looks to build on a Freshman All-America season a year ago.
Looking to lead the Rebels offensively are several players who have shown they can handle things at the plate, including reigning SEC Freshman of the Year Jordan Henry. Henry and fellow Freshman All-America selection Zach Miller are two of the top three hitters from a year ago as Henry batted .376 for the season and Miller hit .368 on the year.
Also returning to the lineup for Ole Miss are the top two home run hitters from last season as Cody Overbeck and Logan Power will find their names in the starting lineup on opening day. Overbeck led the Rebels with 14 home runs in 2007 while Power added 11 home runs of his own.
