In-State Rival Southern Miss in Town for Midweek Contest

			#13 OLE MISS (6-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. SOUTHERN MISS (6-1, 0-0 C-USA) February 25 Oxford, Miss. Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field (11,477)
Ole Miss Notes • Southern Miss Notes • SEC Notes

Wednesday, February 25
4 p.m.

PROJECTED STARTERS
Ole Miss: RHP Wes Burton
1-0, 3.86 ERA, 1 K, 1 BB, 2.1 IP
Southern Miss: LHP Drew Boyd
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 K, 1 BB, 2.0 IP

Watch • Listen • Live Stats

Game 8
Date: February 25
First Pitch: 4 p.m.
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Venue: Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field
Dimensions: LF-330, CF-390, RF-330 (11,477)
TV: SEC Network+
Play by Play: Graham Doty
Analyst: Matt McLaughlin
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play by Play: Eli Savoie
Analyst: Brad Henderson
Series History: 77-51, Ole Miss
Last Meeting: May 1, 2019 (in Hattiesburg)
5-3, Southern Miss
Last in Oxford: March 27, 2018
7-6, Ole Miss

Leading Off
• Ole Miss enters the week at 6-1 after sweeping Xavier last weekend, overwhelming the Musketeers by a combined score of 35-3. The Rebels avoided a midweek upset, notching a 9-8 walk-off win in extras against Alcorn State.
• The Rebels rose to No. 13 in the Baseball America rankings this week after carrying a highest ranking of No. 18 (Perfect Game) into Week 1. Ole Miss is in the top 15 of four of the six major polls.
• Junior shortstop Anthony Servideo was named National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball after hitting .500 with three home runs, including a walk-off homer on Wednesday against Alcorn State.
• Sophomore left-hander Doug Nikhazy was named SEC Player of the Week after throwing the first six innings of a combined no-hitter in Friday's 13-0 win over Xavier.
• Ole Miss recorded no-hitters in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history after a combined 7-inning no-no against UAPB in 2019. Friday's no-hitter was the first 9-inning no-no since 1966.
• Sophomore Gunnar Hoglund threw the first six of a two-hitter on Saturday to make for the fewest hits allowed in a two-game span in program history.
• Ole Miss has clubbed 16 home runs through seven games, more than any other team in college baseball to this point in the season. At 2.29 home runs per game, the Rebels are on pace for 128 during the 2020 regular season.
• Ole Miss and USM last met on May 1, 2019, in Hattiesburg, where the Golden Eagles held off a Rebel comeback at home for a 5-3 win. Prior to that meeting, the Rebels had won the last five meetings. That streak included Southern Miss' last visit to Oxford. On March 27, 2018, the Rebels plated four runs in the 7th inning thanks to a three-run home run by Thomas Dillard to come from behind for a 7-6 victory.

Rebs vs. Golden Eagles

According to Ole Miss records, the series stands at 77-51 in favor of the Rebels. Ole Miss and USM last met on May 1, 2019, in Hattiesburg, where the Golden Eagles held off a Rebel comeback at home for a 5-3 win. Prior to that meeting, the Rebels had won the last five meetings. That streak included Southern Miss' last visit to Oxford. On March 27, 2018, the Rebels plated four runs in the 7th inning thanks to a three-run home run by Thomas Dillard to come from behind for a 7-6 victory.

Rebel freshman outfielder John Rhys Plumlee is a Hattiesburg native. Plumlee was in attendance at Pete Taylor Park last year when USM edged Ole Miss. Projected Golden Eagle starting pitcher Drew Boyd, as well as senior infielder Matthew Guidry went to the same high school as Plumlee, Oak Grove.

Weekly Winners

Ole Miss has already totaled four individual weekly awards just two weeks into the season. Cael Baker was named the SEC Co-Player of the Week and was voted the Golden Spikes Award Performance of the Week in Week 1. In Week 2, Anthony Servideo was dubbed a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball, while Doug Nikhazy was chosen as the SEC Pitcher of the Week.

Rising in the Rankings

The Rebels opened the season in the top 25 for the sixth straight year, and the 6-1 start, including a series win over No. 1 Louisville, only created more believers. Ole Miss was ranked in four of the six major polls in the preseason, with a highest ranking of No. 18 by Perfect Game. The Rebels now hold real estate in all six polls with a high of No. 13 by Baseball America, which left Ole Miss off its preseason top 25. Ole Miss is a consensus top-15 team according to four of six major rankings services.

Dominant Weekend

Ole Miss put its midweek scare in the rearview mirror in a big way, turning in three dominant performances over the weekend to sweep Xavier by a combined score of 35-3. It started with The Staff as the Rebels no-hit the Musketeers in a 13-0 win on Friday behind an excellent start from Doug Nikhazy. Gunnar Hoglund then sparked a two-hitter in Saturday's 9-0 victory, marking the fewest hits allowed in a two game-span in program history. Derek Diamond finished it off, allowing just one run on three hits to lay the foundation for a 13-3 blowout on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Rebels bats amassed 35 runs on 28 hits, including nine home runs.

Servideo Walks it Off

Ole Miss faced a mighty challenge from underdog Alcorn State in the midweek after the Braves jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The Rebels chipped their way back and claimed the lead, but the scrappy Braves kept battling ultimately tying the game at eight to force extra innings. However, in the bottom of the 10th, the top of the Rebel lineup took to the plate, and it didn't take long for the lead red and blue bats to end it. Servideo took the third pitch he saw in the inning and lofted it high over the right field wall for the walk-off home run, his second of homer of the season. It was the first walk-off win for Ole Miss since April 27, 2019, against Texas A&M and the first walk-off homer since March 2, 2019, against Long Beach State—both coming off the bat of Thomas Dillard. It was also the Rebels' first extra-inning affair since their wild 19-15 series-clinching win at LSU on May 5, 2019.

Beating the Best

Ole Miss opened the 2020 season with a series win over No. 1 Lousiville, overcoming a 7-2 Friday night defeat with an 8-6 win on Saturday and 7-6 triumph on Sunday. The Rebels improved to 5-0 in series against top-ranked teams at Swayze Field in the Mike Bianco era, also having beaten Florida in 2012 and 2015, South Carolina in 2011 and Georgia in 2009.

Incoming!

Most of the nation's No. 1 class from 2016 has made its way through the Ole Miss baseball program and on to the professional ranks, but Bianco's Rebels have reloaded with 2019's No. 2 class according to Baseball America. The class includes four incoming freshmen—Derek Diamond, Hayden Dunhurst, Jerrion Ealy and Trey LaFleur—who were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft. Ealy comes to Oxford as the highest-rated prospect (12th) in the 2019 Perfect Game high school rankings to choose college over the MLB Draft. Ole Miss is the only program in the country to enroll four top-50 prospects for the 2019 class in both the Perfect Game and Baseball America rankings: Ealy, Connor Walsh, Derek Diamond and Hayden Dunhurst. There are a total of 20 newcomers on the Rebel roster, including six junior college transfers. That list includes the NJCAA Player of the Year Cael Baker, NJCAA Second Team All-American Ben Van Cleve and NJCAA All-Region outfielder Hayden Leatherwood.

Tough Slate

The tough schedule for Ole Miss won't end after taking on the nation's top team on opening weekend. This season, the Rebels will play 29 games against teams ranked in the preseason top 25, 15 of which will be played at Swayze Field. Nine SEC teams are ranked going into the season, and all eight of the other ranked teams appear on Ole Miss' schedule.

SEC Forecast

Tyler Keenan was the lone Rebel named to the Preseason All-SEC teams, landing on the second team for the second straight season. Ole Miss has had at least one Preseason All-SEC selection in each of the last five seasons. Ole Miss was picked to finish sixth in the SEC West by the league coaches. The Rebels were picked to finish second in the West last season, third in 2018, third in 2017, fifth in 2016 and sixth in 2015 and 2014.

Bianco's 20th Season

As Ole Miss begins the 2020 season, Mike Bianco begins his 20th as the Rebel skipper. Bianco is the longest-tenured head coach in the SEC among the big three men's sports: baseball, football and men's basketball. Over 19 seasons in Oxford, Bianco's record stands at 754-440-1, making him the third all-time winningest coach in SEC history and the winningest in the history of Rebel baseball. His 19-year tenure has included 310 wins in SEC play, 16 NCAA Tournament berths, seven SEC titles, six NCAA Regional titles and has produced 17 All-Americans, 62 All-SEC selections and 114 MLB Draft selections.

Doug Day No Hitter

On Friday against Xavier, Doug Nikhazy set the tone for the series with six no-hit innings. The Rebel ace struck out nine and walked just two to earn SEC Pitcher of the Week honors, his third career SEC weekly honor. Freshmen Drew McDaniel and Jackson Kimbrell relieved Nikhazy and turned in a combined three scoreless innings to become the first players in school history to contribute to a no-hitter in their collegiate debuts.

Ole Miss notched its second combined no-hitter in as many season, the first time in program history the Rebels have posted no-nos in back-to-back seasons. The Rebels no-hit Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2019 in a contest that was called after seven innings. Friday's no-no was the first nine-inning no-hitter for Ole Miss since 1966 and the seventh no-hitter of any kind in program history.

Two Hits on Day 2

After Friday's no-hitter, Gunnar Hoglund, Austin Miller and Cole Baker combined to two-hit Xavier on Saturday. Hoglund struck out a career-high 12 over 6.0 innings, while Miller and Baker finished out the final three with six more Ks. Between Friday and Saturday, Ole Miss allowed the fewest hits (2) in a two-game span in school history.

Year 2 for Starting Duo

Last season, Ole Miss didn't return any weekend starters. This season, the Rebels return two as Doug Nikhazy and Gunnar Hoglund are back after combining for 37 appearances, 30 starts and 157.2 innings pitched a season ago. Hoglund opened the 2019 season as the Sunday starter, and he held that role all the way through the Fayetteville Super Regional. Nikhazy began the season in the bullpen but pitched his way to a starting role, beginning with midweek starts against ECU and Louisville before claiming the Saturday starter role during the second week of SEC play. He went on to earn First Team Freshman All-America honors. Nikhazy will run out on Friday nights with Hoglund getting the ball on Saturdays.

Diamonds are for Sunday

For the second straight season, Ole Miss started a true freshman on Sunday of opening weekend. Last season it was Gunnar Hoglund, this season it's Derek Diamond. Both Hoglund and Diamond were taken in the MLB Draft but decided instead to come to Oxford. Diamond was strong in his collegiate debut, going toe-to-toe with Louisville senior Luke Smith, earning a no-decision in Sunday's win after allowing tossing 5.2 innings with just three earned runs allowed. He turned around and earned his first career win, going 5.0 innings with one run allowed on Sunday vs. Xavier.

Veteran Bullpen

Ole Miss returns several key veterans on its pitching staff for the 2020 season, led by Stopper of the Year Award Watch Lister Austin Miller. The senior out of North Liberty, Iowa, starts the season at No. 32 on the D1Baseball relief pitcher power rankings after breaking a program record with 32 appearances last season. He's joined by senior Taylor Broadway (23 K, 3 BB in 15 APP) in 2019, Max Cioffi (38 K, 9 BB in 16 APP) and Greer Holston, who has made 42 career appearances, including closing out Ole Miss' 2018 SEC Tournament Championship victory against LSU.

Young Guns

The Rebel bullpen veterans will be joined by a strong cast of newcomers. Ole Miss brought in one junior college transfer, sophomore Braden Forsyth. Forsyth was one of several impressive new arms on the Rebel staff during fall and spring practices. Wes Burton missed much of the but came on incredibly strong late in the spring to earn consideration for a major bullpen role. Left-handers Benji Gilbert and Jackson Kimbrell could each be key bullpen pieces, as well as highly touted right-hander Drew McDaniel.

Pitchers to the Pros

Ole Miss must replace four MLB Draft picks on its pitching staff. Will Ethridge was taken in the fifth round by the Colorado Rockies after filling the Friday night starter role for the Rebels last year, finishing with a 7-7 record and 3.39 ERA over a team-high 93.0 innings pitched. Parker Caracci, a 2018 All-American, was taken in the 21st Round by the Toronto Blue Jays after climbing to fifth on the Rebels' career saves chart in less than two full seasons as the team's closer. Zack Phillips opened the 2019 season as the Saturday starter before being usurped by Doug Nikhazy. He totaled 13 starts and 19 appearances, finishing with a 4.99 ERA before being drafted in the 27th Round by the Kansas City Royals. Houston Roth overcame an early-season injury in 2019 to finish strong, posting a 3.67 ERA over 21 appearances. The Baltimore Orioles took the Oxford native in the 29th Round. In total, Ole Miss must replace 290.2 innings pitched.

Swayze Shower Szn

The Ole Miss offense is off to a hot start, leading the nation in home runs through the first two weeks of the 2020 season with 16. The Rebels' 16 home runs have all come in the last six games—a Bianco era record. Ole Miss is second in the nation, averaging 2.29 home runs per game, putting them on pace for 128 home runs during the regular season alone, which would shatter the program record of 98 home runs set in 1998.

The Rebels are slightly ahead of the pace set by 2019's powerful lineup. At this point, the Rebels have 16 total home runs, eight different players with a home run and four players with multiple home runs. In 2019, Ole Miss had 15 home runs, seven players with at least one and three players with multiple homers.

Yes Sir!

Junior shortstop Anthony Servideo has been the lead catalyst for the Ole Miss offense this season, and he enters Week 3 as a reigning Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week. The Jupiter, Florida, native was 7-for-14 and slashed .500/.667/1.143 with three home runs, including a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th inning on Wednesday against Alcorn State. Servideo totaled six runs scored, seven RBI, five walks, two HBPs, was 3-for-3 in stolen bases and struck out just once in 21 plate appearances.

Through seven games, Servideo is tied for 7th nationally in home runs (4), ninth in on-base percentage, (.657) 12th in slugging percentage (1.042), 16th in total bases (25) and 30th in batting average (.500). He's also in the Top 50 nationally in walks, RBI, stolen bases and hits.

Cael Yeah Damn Right

Cael Baker wasted little time making his name known among college baseball fans. The 2019 NJCAA Player of the Year and triple crown winner added to his list of accolades, earning SEC Co-Player of the Week and Golden Spikes Award Performance of the Week honors after going 5-for-12 (.417) in Week 1 with a double, two home runs, five RBI and an even 1.000 slugging percentage to lead Ole Miss to a series win over No. 1 Louisville. He became the first Rebel since Cody Overbeck in 2008 to have a multi-homer outing within the first two games of the season. He's also the only player since at least 1997 to have a multi-homer game within his first two games of wearing a Rebel uniform.

Baker continued his strong start with two home runs in Week 2, placing him in a tie with Anthony Servideo for the team lead, also slotting him in 7th nationally and first in the SEC in home runs with four on the year. Baker is also among the Top 50 players in the country in RBI and slugging percentage.

Catcher U

Just seven games into his collegiate career, Hayden Dunhurst is already proving to be every bit the star the Rebels hoped he would be behind the dish. Dunhurst hasn't allowed a stolen base yet this year, erasing both of the runners who tested his 1.81-second pop time. And after a quiet Week 1 at the plate, his bat came around in a big way in Week 2. The freshman out of Carriere, Mississippi, hit .364 with a team-high eight RBI thanks to four hits and two home runs.

Dunhurst looks poised to be the next in a great line of catchers under Mike Bianco and Co. He is one of just three freshmen to start at catcher on opening day in the Mike Bianco era alongside Taylor Hightower and Dunhurst's predecessor, Cooper Johnson. Over the past five seasons, has allowed the third-fewest stolen bases in the SEC while catching the sixth-most would-be base stealers in the league. Dunhurst will be tasked with replacing one of the best defensive catchers in the nation from a year ago. Johnson finished second in the SEC defending against the steal. Ole Miss allowed just a 61.1 percent stolen base success rate. Dunhurst spurned MLB Draft overtures to come to Oxford. Perfect Game rated him the No. 1 catcher and No. 44 overall prosepct in the nation. He was a Perfect Game All-American and Prep Baseball Report's Mississippi Player of the Year.

The Pack

Mike Bianco has used seven unique lineups through seven games, and 15 players have started at least one game, and only Anthony Servideo, Tyler Keenan and Cael Baker have started all seven games. To this point last year, 12 different players had started a game, and five players had started all seven. A total of 14 players have scored a run, 13 have a hit and 11 have driven in a run.

Two Outs, No Problem

Ole Miss has tallied 22 two-out RBI this season, comprising 38.6 percent of their total RBI on the year. The Rebels notched 18 of those 22 in four games last week, making up 44 percent of their run production for the week. Ole Miss is also hitting .313 with runners on base and .310 with runners in scoring position.

SEC Speed

Ole Miss boasts a wealth of team speed this season. So far in 2020, the Rebels are 12-of-13 in stolen bases, good for fifth in the SEC and 45th nationally in total SBs. Anthony Servideo is 4-for-4 so far this year after swiping 24 bags in 26 attempts a year ago. This fall, three Rebels freshmen a 60-yard dash in the 6.5-range or better. Cade Sammons clocked in at 6.56 seconds, Trey LaFleur at 6.53 seconds and Connor Walsh at a program-record 6.28 seconds. They were joined in the spring by two of the fastest players in college football in John Rhys Plumlee and Jerrion Ealy. The duo combined for 1,745 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns as freshmen and finished one-two on Ole Miss' single-season freshman rushing charts. Ealy is 3-for-4 on the year, while Plumlee is 1-for-1 in stolen base attempts.

Big Spikes to Fill

With Grae Kessinger, Ryan Olenek, Cole Zabowski, Thomas Dillard, Cooper Johnson and others all gone from the Ole Miss offense, the newcomers on the 2020 squad will have some big shoes to fill. The Rebels must replace 67.6% of their at-bats, 68.2% of their runs scored, 69.6% of their hits, 74.5% of their doubles, 59.5% of their home runs, 64.7% of their RBI and 71.0% of their stolen bases. The departed Rebels combined to hit .290, including four players who hit over .300.

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Players Mentioned

Cael Baker

Cole Baker

Taylor Broadway

Wes Burton

Parker Caracci

Max Cioffi

Derek Diamond

Thomas Dillard

Hayden Dunhurst

Jerrion Ealy

Will Ethridge

Braden Forsyth

Benji Gilbert

Gunnar Hoglund

Greer Holston

Cooper Johnson

Tyler Keenan

Grae Kessinger

Jackson Kimbrell

Trey LaFleur

Hayden Leatherwood

Drew McDaniel

Austin Miller

Doug Nikhazy

Ryan Olenek

Zack Phillips

John Rhys Plumlee

Houston Roth

Cade Sammons

Anthony Servideo

Ben Van Cleve

Connor Walsh

Cole Zabowski

The University of Mississippi Athletics