The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Set to Battle Rival Mississippi State
5/6/2015 | Baseball
WEEKEND SERIES
Matchup: Ole Miss (25-24, 11-13 SEC) at Mississippi State (24-24, 8-16 SEC)
Date: May 7-9, 2015
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Venue: Oxford-University Stadium
Capacity: 10,323
Television: SEC Network
Tom Hart, play-by-play
Chris Burke, analyst
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
David Kellum, play-by-play
Keith Kessinger, analyst
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com
Series: Mississippi State leads 237-208-5
Last Series: April 11-13, 2014
Ole Miss won 2-1
Starkville, Miss.
QUICK HITS
- Ole Miss is currently 36th in RPI with the nation's toughest schedule
- The Rebels went 2-2 last week, which includes an 11-1 victory over Mississippi State in the Governor's Cup
- The 10-run win over the Bulldogs was the largest margin of victory in the 36-year history of the Mayor's Trophy/Governor's Cup
- Along with the Governor's Cup victory, Ole Miss has won the past two SEC series versus Mississippi State
- Junior Connor Cloyd has eight multi-hit games in the past 10 contests
- Senior Scott Weathersby earned the win in both of his starts last week, the first two starts of his career
- If the season ended today, Ole Miss would face Kentucky in the first round of the SEC Tournament
- Sikes Orvis hit two solo home runs in Sunday's win at Missouri; he now has 29 for his career
- Both Colby Bortles and Sikes Orvis have had multi-homer games this season
- The Rebels are 8-9 against ranked teams this season, including 5-4 versus No. 1 ranked teams
- Ole Miss ranks second in the nation in attendance in 2015, averaging 7,920 fans per game for a total attendance of 198,002
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
THURSDAY, 7:30 P.M.
Mississippi State - Lucas Laster, Sr., LHP, 4-3, 3.25 ERA
Ole Miss - Christian Trent, Jr., LHP, 6-5, 3.75 ERA
NOTING TRENT:
- Has thrown 8.0 innings in each of his last two outings, including a complete game at No. 14 Missouri
- Went a season-long 8.0 innings against Alabama, surrendering two runs (one earned) on six hits with five strikeouts to earn the win
- Pitched 6.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits to defeat No. 1 Florida, going 4.1 innings without giving up a hit
- Has made 29 career starts, recording 142 strikeouts over 187.2 innings for a record of 15-5
- Won his first 12 games as a Rebel, the best start to a career by any pitcher in Ole Miss baseball history
- Named to the 50-player preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list
FRIDAY, 6:00 P.M.
Mississippi State - Preston Brown, R-Jr., RHP, 5-6, 3.88 ERA
Ole Miss - Brady Bramlett, R-So., RHP, 5-3, 3.26 ERA
NOTING BRAMLETT:
- Has a team-high 70 strikeouts and is holding opponents to a .233 batting average
- Struck out nine hitters over seven scoreless innings in a victory over Alabama
- Pitched seven innings without allowing an earned run at No. 1 LSU
- Went six scoreless innings against Stetson, giving up just three hits and one walk to go along with his 12 strikeouts
- Only Rebel to record 12 strikeouts in one game as well as double digit strikeouts in two or more starts since Drew Pomeranz in 2010
- Returned to the mound this season after missing the end of the 2013 season and the entire 2014 season due to injury
SATURDAY, 4:00 P.M.
Mississippi State - Austin Sexton, So., RHP, 4-4, 4.09 ERA
Ole Miss - TBA
A LOOK AT MSU
Under seventh-year head coach John Cohen, the Bulldogs enter the rivalry weekend with a 24-24 record, including a 8-16 mark in SEC play. MSU ended its final home SEC series of the season by dropping two-of-three versus No. 1 LSU. Redshirt-sophomore Jacob Robson paces the team with a .348 average at the plate to go along with a team-high 20 stolen bases. In his final year as a Bulldog, redshirt-senior Wes Rea has shown his power with 33 RBI, nine doubles, four home runs and a .489 slugging percentage. On the mound, closer Trevor Fits has a team-low 2.03 ERA to go along with his six saves. Starting for Mississippi State, the weekend rotation of Lucas Laster, Preston Brown and Austin Sexton have a combined four complete games amongst the three of them. Laster, who will get the ball on Thursday night to open the series, has thrown two complete games and boasts the best ERA out of the three starters at 3.25.
CLAIMING THE GOVERNOR'S CUP
Senior Scott Weathersby threw seven scoreless innings, and the Ole Miss baseball team used 15 hits to score 11 runs in an 11-1 thumping of Mississippi State in the annual Governor's Cup, Tuesday night, April 28, at Trustmark Park. The 10-run win for the Rebels marked the largest margin of victory in the 36-year history of the Mayor's Trophy/Governor's Cup between the two archrivals. Ole Miss re-claimed the Governor's Cup for the first time since 2012 behind a veteran arm out of the Rebels' bullpen. In the first start of his four-year career, Weathersby was brilliant, tossing seven scoreless innings. The senior right-hander allowed just six hits and walked one, while striking out three. For his outstanding performance, Weathersby was named the Governor's Cup Most Valuable Player. Ole Miss recorded 15 hits paced once again by leadoff hitter Connor Cloyd. The junior went 3-for-6 with a career-high four RBI. Cloyd also produced his seventh-straight multi-hit game. Four more Rebels provided multi-hit games as Colby Bortles, Cameron Dishon, Austin Knight and Sikes Orvis all recorded two hits apiece. Bortles and Dishon each knocked in a pair of Rebels.
WEATHERSBY NAMED GOVERNOR'S CUP MVP
Senior Scott Weathersby made 47 relief appearances in his Ole Miss career before head coach Mike Bianco called upon the veteran to make the start in his final Governor's Cup versus rival Mississippi State. Going into the contest, the most innings Weathersby threw was six in relief against No. 1 Vanderbilt. Taking the mound in the annual rivalry matchup, the Hattiesburg, Miss. native looked as if he's been a regular start. The senior right-hander tossed a gem, pitching a career-high seven scoreless innings and allowing just six hits, while striking out three. Weathersby was named the Governor's Cup Most Valuable Player for his performance, a well-deserved accolade for a veteran reliever making his first career start.
BOMBS AWAY
Senior Sikes Orvis blasted a pair of solo home runs to help lead Ole Miss to a 4-3 victory over No. 14 Missouri, May 3. The multi-homer game was the second of Orvis' career. The senior first baseman coincidentally homered twice against Missouri last year, March 22, 2014. Orvis also became the second Rebel to hit two home runs in one game this season. Teammate Colby Bortles accomplished the feat versus UT Martin, April 15. The two home runs gave Orvis a team-leading 11 for the season and 29 for his career.
PERKINS PRODUCES IN HOME STATE
Freshman Nic Perkins took advantage of competing in his home state of Missouri over the weekend. Playing in front of friends and family, the St. Charles, Missouri native went a combined 4-for-6 seeing action in two games. After going 2-for-2 off the bench on Saturday, Perkins got his first career start as a Rebel, serving as the Ole Miss designated hitter. He went 2-for-4 to record his second straight multi-hit game and the first two of his career. Perkins led off the eighth inning with a single up the middle before fellow freshman Kyle Watson relieved him as a pinch runner. The base hit ended up being an important one as Watson later scored what ended up being the game-winning run in the Rebels' 4-3 victory.
CLOSING OUT GAMES
Ole Miss has been efficient in closing out games this season. While the Rebels have three come-from-behind wins despite trailing after the eighth inning, they are a perfect 20-0 when holding their own lead through eight innings. A credit to Ole Miss capping off victories is the back end of the bullpen. The quartet of Wyatt Short, Will Stokes, Jacob Waguespack and Scott Weathersby has combined for 14 saves this season. Short leads the way as the team's primary closer with seven saves, but Stokes and Weathersby each have three as well. Waguespack earned his first career save against No. 1 Vanderbilt. Along with the impressive record after eight innings of play, the Rebels are 8-3 in one-run games.
BIRTHDAY VICTORY
Head coach Mike Bianco celebrated another birthday, May 3, with a victory as his Rebels defeated No. 14 Missouri, 4-3. During Bianco's time at Ole Miss, the Rebels have competed eight times on his birthday and have fared quite well. Ole Miss has gone 6-2 on Bianco's birthday since he took over the program, including winning the last six games on that date, May 3.
CLOYD LEADING OFF
Junior Connor Cloyd has provided Ole Miss the production it needs from the leadoff spot as of late. Leading off as either the team's left fielder or designated hitter depending on the day, Cloyd has seen his average rocket to .425. The Tacoma, Wash. native has recorded at least two hits in eight of the last 10 games, going 22-for-41 (.537). Against Central Arkansas, Cloyd tallied a career-high four hits to go along with three runs and three RBI. He followed that offensive performance with a three-hit game versus Memphis. Last weekend, Cloyd smacked a pair of hits in all three games against Alabama to help Ole Miss claim the conference series. Cloyd continued his hot hitting in the Governor's Cup, going 3-for-6 with a career-high four RBI in the Rebels' win over Mississippi State before adding another three-hit game to help lead Ole Miss to a 4-3 victory over No. 14 Missouri.
ESPN ADDS REBS TO MAY 14 SCHEDULE
The Southeastern Conference announced April 29, that ESPN has chosen the May 14 baseball game between Ole Miss and Texas A&M to air on national television. The series opener between the Rebels and Aggies will be broadcast live on ESPNU with first pitch still set for its original time, 6:30 p.m. CT, at Swayze Field. The three-game set against Texas A&M is the final regular-season series for the Rebels. Ole Miss baseball on ESPNU will mark the 12th time this season the Rebels are slated to appear on national television. The Diamond Rebels have played eight of those contests thus far, sporting a record of 4-4 that includes victories over then-No. 1 LSU and then-No. 1 Vanderbilt. Ole Miss will host rival Mississippi State at Swayze Field, May 7-9, with all three games set for broadcast on SEC Network.
SEC TOURNAMENT OUTLOOK
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the 2015 SEC Baseball Tournament is on the horizon. For the 18th straight year, the tournament will return to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover Ala., May 19-24. The top 12 teams will qualify for the tournament with the top four seeds earning byes to the double-elimination format. Seeds 5 through 12 will square off on May 19 with the losers of the four games going home and the winners advancing to double-elimination play. If the season ended today, Ole Miss would head to the tournament as the No. 9 seed and face No. 8 seed Kentucky in a single elimination contest.
SOPHOMORE MAINSTAYS
Only two Rebels have started all 49 games this season, and they both happen to be sophomores. Errol Robinson has started every game as the Rebels' shortstop, while J.B. Woodman has been penciled in the Ole Miss outfield, splitting time between center field and right field. Robinson and Woodman have made phenomenal plays with their gloves, but the duo also produces at the plate. Woodman has 48 hits, second on the team, while Robinson is third with 47; Woodman has scored a team-high 34 times, while Robinson's 24 runs are fourth on the Ole Miss ball club.
WEATHERING THE STORM
One of two captains, senior Scott Weathersby has been a leader to a youthful Ole Miss baseball team. On the mound this season, Weathersby has posted a 1.84 ERA in 15 appearances, including the first two starts of his career last week. Through 44.0 innings of work, he has struck out 44 batters, while only walking 10. Perhaps the most impressive statistic of all by the Hattiesburg, Miss. native is that he is holding opposing hitters to just a .177 average at the plate. Weathersby's veteran presence on the mound showed against No. 1 Vanderbilt, April 10, as he retired 18 of the 21 batters he faced in a six-inning relief appearance. The senior right-hander struck out a career-high 10 hitters and got out of a bases-loaded jam, all while keeping the nation's top-ranked team off the scoreboard. Behind Weathersby, the Rebels stayed alive in the extra-inning contest before winning in the 16th. Weathersby shut the door to collect the win on the road. The performance earned the senior SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors, and he built off the accolade in his next appearance, earning the win at Auburn, before tossing 1.2 scoreless innings to collect a save versus Alabama. Weathersby continued his dominance as he got the start against rival Mississippi State in the Governor's Cup. The senior tossed a career-high seven innings without allowing a run, earning MVP honors and leading Ole Miss to an 11-1 victory. After the Governor's Cup win, Weathersby started in the series finale at No. 14 Missouri and picked up the win.
LET'S PLAY TWO
Although having just one doubleheader scheduled prior to the start of the 2015 campaign, Ole Miss has played in seven other twinbills this year. Following a sweep over Alabama on Saturday, the eighth doubleheader of the season, the Rebels are 9-7 on doubleheader days. Playing so many doubleheaders is not familiar territory for the Rebels; the last time Ole Miss played eight doubleheaders in one full season occurred in 1993 when the Rebels played eight twinbills throughout the year due to them being regularly scheduled by the SEC. Once the conference stopped scheduling doubleheaders, the most Ole Miss had played up until this year was four in each of the following seasons: 2008, 2006, and 1996.
SHORT'S STUFF
Sophomore southpaw Wyatt Short has been a shutdown reliever out of the Ole Miss bullpen this season. In 17 appearances, Short has a 3-1 record, seven saves, an impressive 1.71 ERA, 35 strikeouts, only 11 walks and just six earned runs over 31.2 innings. His win total and number of saves are team highs out of Rebel relievers as he had held opposing hitters to a .231 average at the plate. Against Tennessee, the Southaven, Miss. native entered the game with the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate, but he pitched out of the jam, allowing just one of the inherited runners to score. He also pitched the final 2.2 innings to earn the save in game one of a doubleheader at Auburn. At one point this season, March 1 through April 18, Short surrendered just one run over 21.2 innings spanning 12 appearances. The southpaw pitched two scoreless innings to earn another save against No. 14 Missouri.
THE GAUNTLET
The Rebels have gone through the gauntlet in 2015 with a difficult non-conference schedule as well as facing three teams ranked No. 1 in the country. According to NCAA statistics, Ole Miss has had the nation's toughest schedule to this point as the Rebels' opponents are a combined 538-373-1 (.590) this season. Through 49 games, 17 of those contests came against top-15 teams, including nine against No. 1 teams. The Rebels are 8-9 in games against ranked teams. Ole Miss went through a stretch of playing 8-of-11 games against teams ranked in the top 10, posting an even 4-4 record in those matchups that included a series victory over then-No.1 Florida. The brutal schedule has forced a young Ole Miss team grow up fast, and the Rebels could benefit from the pressure down the final stretch of the 2015 campaign.
ON THE HORIZON
The Rebels will wrap up the final week of the 2015 regular season with four games. First, Ole Miss will head to Jonesboro, Ark. to face Arkansas State in its final non-conference game of the year, May 12. Following an off day, the Rebels return to Swayze Field to host one of the nation's top-ranked teams in Texas A&M in the last SEC weekend series of 2015. The Diamond Rebels and Aggies will open up the three-game set on Thursday night, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU. Game two of the series is set for May 15 with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch, while the series concludes on Sunday, May 16, at 1:30 p.m.
