The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Set To Face Kentucky In Weekend Series
4/14/2011 | Baseball
April 14, 2011
Ole Miss (20-14, 5-7 SEC) vs. Kentucky (17-17, 2-10 SEC)
Oxford, Miss. รโข Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field
April 15-17 รโข 6:30 PM/4:00 PM/1:30 PM
Radio: Full Ole Miss Baseball Radio Network
Announcers: David Kellum & Keith Kessinger
Television: None
Internet Stats/Broadcasts: www.OleMissSports.com
THIS WEEK FOR OLE MISS:
Ole Miss hit the road on Tuesday for a midweek game against Southern Miss at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss. The Rebels now come back home for a second straight weekend against the Kentucky Wildcats in a three-game series. Friday's game is at 6:30 p.m., Saturday is at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday is at 1:30 p.m.
NEXT WEEK FOR THE REBELS:
Ole Miss will play a single midweek game on the road again next week, returning to Trustmark Park to face Mississippi State in the annual Governor's Cup game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Ole MIss will then continue on the road with a three-game series at Auburn that will be played Thursday - Saturday. Thursday night's game is at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU, while Friday's game is at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday is at noon on CSS.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCH-UPS:
FRIDAY, 6:30 P.M.
UK - Alex Meyer, Jr., RHP
OM - Matt Crouse, Jr., LHP
NOTING CROUSE: Junior left-hander Matt Crouse enters the weekend looking to get back in the win column after starting the season with a 6-0 record. Crouse currently sits at 6-2 on the year with an 2.93 ERA as he has struck out 41 batters and walked only seven in a team-leading 55.1 innings of work. The junior is holding batters to a .235 batting average against while allowing only 18 earned runs. Crouse has tossed two complete-games this year, including a shutout of Lipscomb and a complete-game victory at Tennessee.
SATURDAY, 4:00 P.M.
UK - Corey Littrell, Fr., LHP
OM - David Goforth, Jr., RHP
NOTING GOFORTH: Goforth enters the weekend with an overall mark of 1-5 on the year, but a deeper look at the numbers shows a better pitching performance than the record would indicate. The junior right-hander is holding batters to a .272 batting average against in 49.0 innings of work while surrending only 21 earned runs through eight starts. He holds a 3.86 ERA on the year with 34 strikeouts and 18 walks.
SUNDAY, 1:30 P.M.
UK - Taylor Rogers, So., LHP
OM - Austin Wright, Jr., LHP
NOTING WRIGHT: Wright enters the weekend coming off a win over Georgia last weekend to move the junior left-hander to 4-3 on the year. The big southpaw has struck out a team-leading 45 batters and walked only 13 on the season, tallying 44.2 innings of work in the Sunday starter role. Opponents are hitting at a .288 clip against Wright this season. The junior has posted wins over Houston, Lipscomb, Tennessee and Georgia.
A LOOK AT KENTUCKY:
The Wildcats of Kentucky enter the weekend series with an overall record of 17-17 and have a mark of 2-10 in Southeastern Conference play. The Wildcats pulled to .500 on the season on Tuesday night with a 3-2 win over in-state rival Louisville before heading to Oxford. As a team, Kentucky is batting at a .294 clip and have hit 27 home runs with 177 RBI while scoring 197 runs this year. Chad Wright leads the Wildcat offense, batting at a .336 clip with four home runs and 24 RBI. Leading the run production is Braden Kapteyn with 33 RBI to date. The Kentucky pitching staff holds a team ERA of 4.21 with 271 strikeouts and 101 walks this season. Friday night starter Alex Meyer leads the team with a 3.74 ERA as he has posted a 3-4 mark with 64 strikeouts and 29 walks through 55.1 innings of work.
OLE MISS VS. KENTUCKY:
Ole Miss and Kentucky have faced off a total of 64 times in the history of the two programs with the Rebels holding a 38-26 lead in the all-time series. Head coach Mike Bianco has faced the Wildcats 25 times in his career and holds a 15-10 record against Kentucky.
LAST TIME OUT VS. THE WILDCATS:
Ole Miss and Kentucky faced off last season in Lexington to open Southeastern Conference play with the Rebels claiming the weekend series 2-1. Ole Miss picked up the first two wins in the series before dropping the Sunday game. The Rebels won 9-0 behind Drew Pomeranz on Friday before winning 7-6 on Saturday. Kentucky won 12-3 Sunday.
SOME HAVE HIT STREAKS ON THE LINE:
Several players hold hit streaks heading into the contest with Southern Miss, led by sophomore outfielder and lead-off hitter Tanner Mathis. Mathis has hit safely in 17 straight games. The 17-game hit streak from Mathis is the longest of the season, and ties for seventh all-time at Ole Miss. Taylor Hightower (6), Preston Overybey (4), Blake Newalu (4) and Smith (3) also have active hit streaks of more than two games coming into the weekend series.
OTHERS KEEP REACHING BASE:
While Tanner Mathis has hit safely in 17 consecutive games, the sophomore has reached base in more consecutive games. Mathis currently holds a streak of 23 straight games reaching base. Matt Smith had reached in 14 consecutive games before failing to reach base in Friday night's game against Georgia.
SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR THE REBELS:
Ole Miss has a schedule change for later in the season when the Rebels take to the road to face Arkansas State. Originally slated for a 6:30 p.m. game on May 10, the Rebels will now travel to face Arkansas State on May 4. Game time is still set for a 6:30 p.m. start on the new date.
