Rebels Welcome West Coast Foe for Series at Swayze

			#10 OLE MISS (5-2, 0-0 SEC) vs. LONG BEACH STATE (0-7, 0-0 Big West) March 1-2 Oxford, Miss. Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field (11,477)
Ole Miss Notes • Long Beach State Notes • SEC Notes

Friday, Mar. 1 6:30 p.m.	Saturday, Mar. 2 (Game 1) 1:30 p.m.	Saturday, Mar. 2 (Game 2) 45mins after Game 1
PROJECTED STARTERS Ole Miss: RHP Will Ethridge 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 K, 2 BB, 5.2 IP Long Beach State: LHP Zak Baayoun 0-1, 3.75 ERA, 9 K, 10 BB, 12.0 IP	PROJECTED STARTERS Ole Miss: LHP Zack Phillips 0-1, 10.29 ERA, 5 K, 5 BB, 7.0 IP Long Beach State: TBA	PROJECTED STARTERS Ole Miss: RHP Gunnar Hoglund 0-0, 6.00 ERA, 4 K, 1 BB, 6.0 IP Long Beach State: TBA
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LEADING OFF
• Due to inclement weather in Sunday's forecast, Ole Miss and Long Beach State will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1:30 p.m. CT. The second game of the doubleheader and final game of the series will start 45 minutes after the conclusion of the day's first game.
• Ole Miss enters the weekend after a 12-6 victory over UT Martin in the midweek. The Rebels clubbed three home runs, while a strong bullpen effort saw senior Connor Green pick up his second career win and second in two games.
• It was a big week for junior OF/C Thomas Dillard, who was named SEC Player of the Week, Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week, NCBWA Hitter of the Week and Golden Spikes Award Performance of the Week.
• Dillard is one of two players in the nation (along with New Mexico State's Nick Gonzales) to rank in the top 10 nationally in slugging percentage, total bases, home runs per game, home runs, RBI and RBI per game.
• Ole Miss is the only team in the SEC to rank in the top 15 nationally in slugging percentage, home runs and scoring.
• Ole Miss is one of two teams in the SEC (Alabama) with two players in the top 50 in the nation in batting average. Thomas Dillard and Ryan Olenek are tied for 41st in the nation, hitting .481 going into the weekend.
• With 15 home runs on the season, Ole Miss ranks fourth nationally. The Rebels are averaging 2.14 home runs per game, good for second in the nation and first in the SEC.
• Ole Miss is the only team in the SEC and one of two teams in the nation (New Mexico State) with two players in the top 10 in nationally in home runs per game. Thomas Dillard ranks fourth with 0.71 per contest, and Keenan is tied for ninth with 0.57 per game.
• Ole Miss is the only team in the SEC and one of just three teams (Baylor, Army) with seven or more returning players who started 48 or more games in 2018.
• Four Rebels (Cole Zabowski, Parker Caracci, Chase Cockrell, Tyler Keenan) were named Preseason All-SEC, the most in program history and tied for the most in the conference this season.
• Three Rebels earned Preseason All-America Honors: Parker Caracci (5x), Thomas Dillard, Ryan Olenek.

DOUBLEHEADER TICKETING INFO
Season-ticket holders and single-game purchasers will use Saturday's ticket, (Game 07), for Saturday afternoon's game at 1:30 p.m. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. The stadium will not be cleared between games.

If you have a General Admission single-game ticket for Sunday only, please turn it in at the stadium ticket office to be swapped for a Saturday General Admission ticket.

Diamond Club, Dugout Club and Rooftop Plaza members must use their Saturday club ticket (Game 07) for both games. Servicing will be from 11-11:30 a.m. Servicing in between games will not be permitted. The Diamond Club, Dugout Club and Rooftop Plaza will not be cleared in between games.

If season-ticket holders wish to attend only one of the games during the doubleheader but would like to give their tickets away for the second game (or vice versa), please turn the used tickets into the Ticket Office outside of the stadium so that they may be reprinted for you or your guests and left at Will Call for pick up.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
• OleMissGameday.com
• OleMissGameday.com/baseball/parking
• OleMissTix.com

GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING
General Admission seating is located in left field and overflow into right field. For left field and right field general admission, you are allowed to bring in your own folding chair to sit in. You are only able to enter the stadium with a folding chair through the left or right field gate entrances and are responsible for removing your chair after the game has ended. If all seats are filled in left field or right field, we offer standing room only around the stadium. Please be mindful when standing around the stadium as to not block another person's view.

PROMO SCHEDULE
Friday
• Schedule magnet giveaway
• Swayze Field 30th Anniversary poster giveaway

Saturday
• Swayze Babies – The first 500 fans will receive a FREE Ole Miss baseball baby bib
• Meet the Rebels autograph poster giveaway

SEE YOU AT SWAYZE

In 2018, Ole Miss was No. 2 in the nation in both total and average attendance for the fourth consecutive season. Swayze Field attracted 8,965 fans per game and a total of 322,742 fans over 36 games.

The season included five of the top 10 most-attended games in program history, including the single-game attendance record of 12,152 in the series-deciding game against LSU on April 28, 2018, which Ole Miss won, 9-8. The Rebels also set the single-game postseason attendance record in the opening game of the NCAA Oxford Regional as Ole Miss topped Saint Louis, 9-2.

Going into 2019, Ole Miss broke its program record for season ticket sales. The previous program-high was 6,275 for the 2017 season. At the start of the 2019 campaign, the season ticket sales figure eclipsed 7,000 for the first time in history.

The Rebels were second in the nation in opening-day attendance in 2019 (8,832), behind only LSU.

This season is the 30th anniversary of Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field, which opened February 19, 1989. Prior to the construction of the current facility, the Rebels played at Old Swayze Field, which stood where The Pavilion at Ole Miss currently stands.

REBS ARE RUNNIN'

Ole Miss is the only team in the SEC to rank in the top 15 nationally in slugging percentage, home runs and scoring.

SEC SPEED

Ole Miss is No. 20 in the nation and No. 5 in the SEC, averaging 2.43 stolen bases per game.

PRESEASON HONORS

Ole Miss earned four preseason All-SEC honors, the most in Rebel baseball history and tied for the most in the conference this season. First baseman Cole Zabowski landed on the first team, while Parker Caracci, Chase Cockrell and Tyler Keenan earned second team honors. Six of the Rebels' starting nine offensive players carry either 2019 preseason or 2018 postseason honors into the start of the season.

Preseason All-American
Parker Caracci - 1st Team (Perfect Game); 2nd Team (D1Baseball, NCBWA, Collegiate Baseball); 3rd Team (Baseball America)
Thomas Dillard - 2nd Team (D1Baseball)
Ryan Olenek - 3rd Team (Collegiate Baseball)

Preseason All-SEC
1B Cole Zabowski - First Team
RHP Parker Caracci - Second Team
IF/OF/DH Chase Cockrell - Second Team
3B Tyler Keenan - Second Team

SCOUTING THE DIRTBAGS

Ole Miss has met historical power Long Beach State five times in program history, including a three-game series last season. The Rebels took that series at Blair Field in Long Beach, California. After falling 4-3 in Game 1, the Rebels battled back for a 4-3 win in Game 2 before decisively taking the three-game set with a 12-1 win on Sunday.

LBSU, which boasts 51 MLB players in its history, including 13 active during the 2018 season, is off to a rough start in 2019. The Dirtbags opened their season at Florida, falling in all three games. The Dirtbags are 0-7 thus far with team batting average of .156. However, the LBSU staff has been strong, boasting a team ERA of 3.00.

FOR STARTERS

Ole Miss must replace its entire weekend starting rotation as Ryan Rolison, Brady Feigl and James McArthur were all selected in the 2018 MLB Draft and have moved on to the professional ranks.

GOOD WILL PITCHING

Will Ethridge earned the Friday night role after posting the team's best ERA over the offseason. The junior out of Lilburn, Georgia, posted a miniscule 0.60 ERA in the fall with 18 strikeouts compared to four walks (4.50 K/BB). He kept it going in the spring, holding opposing hitters to two runs over 11 innings for a 1.67 ERA.

Ethridge was outstanding in his 2019 debut, going 5.2 scoreless innings with just four hits allowed, striking out five and walking two. After missing last weekend with a blister on his finger, he will return to his Friday night role this weekend.

TO THE LEFTY

It was a hot competition for the No. 2 and 3 weekend starter roles behind Ethridge, and junior college transfer Zack Phillips seized the Saturday night spot. Phillips, a lefty out of Texarkana, Arkansas, was strong in the fall, striking out 16 over 12.2 innings, but he came back even better after the winter break. The Grayson CC transfer allowed just two runs in 10 innings of work this spring for a 2.20 ERA. He silenced the powerful Rebel lineup, throwing five scoreless innings in his final intrasquad outing of the spring.

FAB FRESHMAN

The final starting role was taken by highly touted freshman Gunnar Hoglund. Hoglund was drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates but elected to come to Oxford.

The rookie out of Hudson, Florida, has lived up to his billing thus far. His fall ERA was second only to Ethridge at 1.23 over 14.2 innings of work. He was outstanding in the spring as well, posting a 6.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio, going 8.2 innings without issuing a free pass. Before his final start of the spring, he allowed just two earned runs.

CLOSING TIME

Parker Caracci had a breakout 2018 season that ended in All-America honors and a selection in the 37th round of the MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. However, Caracci elected to return for his redshirt-junior campaign, and he has worked his way back to top form going into the season. Caracci pitched for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team over the summer, posting a perfect 0.00 ERA with two saves and an opposing batting average of .094 in 9.2 innings of work. Heading into the season, Caracci is a first-team All-American according to Perfect Game, in addition to four other All-America nods. He's also All-SEC Second Team and is on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List.

GREEN IS BACK

Senior Connor Green has emerged as a linchpin in the Rebel bullpen in 2019. Green posted a 2.73 ERA in 20 appearnces as a freshman but saw his role diminished the two following seasons, including a switch to a sidearm delivery as junior. Now, he's back over the top and better than ever. Green picked up his first two career wins in back-to-back games—Sunday at Tulane and Tuesday against UT Martin. The Collierville, Tennessee, native is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 7 Ks and no walks in three 2019 appearances.

BULLPEN BRIGHT SPOTS

As it looks to replace the bulk of its pitching staff from 2018, the Rebels found some critical innings from returners and newcomers alike to win the series at Tulane last week. On Sunday in New Orleans, starter Gunnar Hoglund allowed just one earned run, while a combination of Hoglund, Austin Miller, Connor Green, Kaleb Hill, Tyler Myers and Doug Nikhazy held the Green Wave scoreless over the final seven innings to secure a come-from-behind victory. Green, a senior, earned his first career win, while Nikhazy earned his first career save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Nikhazy, Green, Miller and Hill all posted spotless 0.00 ERAs over the week, while Myers was outstanding as well at 2.25, giving up just one earned run and striking out five over 4.0 innings of work.

SEE BALL, HIT BALL

Ole Miss is one of two teams in the SEC (Alabama) with two players in the top 50 in the nation in batting average. Thomas Dillard and Ryan Olenek are tied for 41st in the nation, hitting .481 going into the weekend.

SWAYZE SHOWER SEASON

Ole Miss is the only team in the SEC and one of two teams in the nation (New Mexico State) with two players in the top 10 in the nation in home runs per game. Thomas Dillard ranks fourth nationally with 0.71 per contest, and Keenan is tied for ninth with 0.57 per game.

With 15 home runs on the season, Ole Miss ranks fourth nationally. The Rebels are averaging 2.14 home runs per game, good for second in the nation and first in the SEC.

BASH BROTHERS

Ole Miss is the only team in the SEC and one of three teams in the nation (New Mexico State, Arizona State) with two players in the top 15 in the nation in RBI/game. Dillard is sixth nationally with 2.29 RBI per game, while Keenan is 15th with 1.86 per game. Together, the two rank 26th or better in the nation in 11 offensive categories.

DILLY DILLY!

Thomas Dillard's incredible start to the 2019 season has drawn some major national recognition.

Week 2 Honors
• SEC Player of the Week
• Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week
• NCBWA National Hitter of the Week
• Golden Spikes Award Performance of the Week

The junior out of Oxford is one of two players in the nation (along with New Mexico State's Nick Gonzales) to rank in the top 10 nationally in slugging percentage, total bases, home runs per game, home runs, RBI per game and RBI.

OLEY ON FIRE

Ryan Olenek picked up where he left off after hitting .350 and earning All-SEC First Team honors in 2018. The senior out of Winter Park, Florida, is hitting at a .481 clip through seven games with 12 runs scored. He ranks in the top 20 nationally in runs scored per game (16th) and total runs scored (20th).

Olenek, who has appeared at every position on the diamond except catcher over his Rebel career, showed his unrivaled versatility Tuesday against UT Martin. After going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored, he came in to pitch the ninth inning. In his second career appearance and first of the season, he faced the minimum, striking out two batters to close out the 12-6 win.

He also attracts baseballs at an alarming rate. He has been hit by four pitches this season, ranking 31st in the country and third in the SEC. He has been hit by 27 pitches over his career.

OK, TK

Tyler Keenan had a tremendous rookie campaign, earning Freshman All-American honors, as well as an All-SEC Second Team nod going into 2019—and he has shown no signs of a sophomore slump.

Keenan hit .412 last week, going 7-for-17 with two home runs and nine RBI. He's fourth on the team with a .320 batting average on the season with three home runs and 11 RBI, which are second only to Dillard.

ANT MAN

Sophomore Anthony Servideo has been a spark plug for the Rebels this season, playing second base, right field and shortstop. He has hit .313 along the way with seven runs scored. He's also been electric on the basepaths, with a team-high five stolen bases at a perfect 5-for-5 rate.

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Players Mentioned

Parker Caracci

Chase Cockrell

Thomas Dillard

Will Ethridge

Brady Feigl

Connor Green

Kaleb Hill

Gunnar Hoglund

Tyler Keenan

James McArthur

Austin Miller

Tyler Myers

Doug Nikhazy

Ryan Olenek

Zack Phillips

Ryan Rolison

Anthony Servideo

Cole Zabowski

The University of Mississippi Athletics