The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Charleston Southern
Baseball Opens 2022 Season with Charleston Southern
2/17/2022 | Baseball
Rebels and Bucs Set for Three-Game Battle at Swayze
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#5 OLE MISS (0-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (0-0, 0-0 BIG SOUTH) February 18-20 Oxford, Miss. Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field (11,477) |
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| Ole Miss Notes • SEC Notes • Charleston Southern Notes | ||||||||
| Friday, February 18 4 p.m. CT  |
Saturday, February 19 1:30 p.m. CT  |
Sunday, February 20 1:30 p.m. CT |
| PROJECTED STARTERS Ole Miss: RHP Derek Diamond 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 BB Charleston Southern: LHP Bryce Brock 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 BB |
PROJECTED STARTERS Ole Miss: LHP John Gaddis 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 BB Charleston Southern: RHP Jerry Couch 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 BB |
PROJECTED STARTERS Ole Miss: RHP Drew McDaniel 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 BB Charleston Southern: RHP Evan Truitt 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 K, 0 BB |
| Watch • Listen • Live Stats | Watch • Listen • Live Stats | Watch • Listen • Live Stats |
LEADING OFF
• Ole Miss begins its 22nd season under head coach Mike Bianco. The Rebels have won at least 30 games every full season during the Bianco era, including nine 40-win campaigns.
• The Rebels will see a familiar face across the diamond during opening weekend in Charleston Southern head coach Marc MacMillan. MacMillan served on Bianco's staff from 2014-20, first as a director of operations and then as volunteer assistant coach.
• Charleston Southern is the 193rd unique opponent in the history of Ole Miss baseball.
• Ole Miss is 19-2 in home openers during the Bianco era.
• The Rebels return the vast majority of their offense, including eight of nine position players.
• Ole Miss was projected to win the SEC Championship in the 2022 SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving four first place votes.
• The Rebels also led the league in Preseason All-SEC honorees, landing five players, including four infielders, on the list.
• Ole Miss is one of eight teams with multiple players on the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List (Hayden Dunhurst, Jacob Gonzalez).
• Four different Rebels received preseason All-America accolades, including five different nods for Gonzalez.
• The Rebels are ranked inside the top-20 in all six major polls, coming in highest at No. 5 by D1Baseball.
• Ole Miss led the nation in total attendance in 2021 at 303,859.
IN THE POLLS
Ole Miss is ranked inside the top-10 in five of the six major polls to open the season. D1Baseball has the Rebels ranked highest at No. 5, matching the second-highest preseason ranking for Ole Miss since 2008.
WHO'S NUMBER ONE?
Despite being picked to tie for second in the SEC West, Ole Miss was also projected as SEC Champions with the most first place votes in the 2022 SEC Preseason Poll, voted on by the league's head coaches. Ole Miss is seeking its first regular season conference title since 2009.
SEC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
East (Championship Votes)
1. Vanderbilt (2)
2. Florida (2)
3. Georgia
4. Tennessee
5. South Carolina
6. Kentucky
7. Missouri
West (Championship Votes)
1. Arkansas (3)
2. Ole Miss (4)
2. Mississippi State (2)
4. LSU (1)
5. Alabama
6. Texas A&M
7. Auburn
THE BOYS ARE BACK!
Ole Miss returns nearly the entirety of its potent offense from the 2021 season with eight of nine positional starters returning to the Rebel lineup, Ole Miss is poised once again to put up guady numbers on the scoreboard.
Percentage Return from 2021
• Games Started - 88.6%
• Runs - 88.5%
• Hits - 91.8%
• Doubles - 91.7%
• Triples - 100%
• Home Runs - 90.6%
• RBIs - 91.3%
• Walks - 85.1%
RETURN OF THE MAC
Named the head coach at Charleston Southern prior to the start of the 2021 season, this weekend's series will mark the return of former Rebel coach Marc MacMillan, who served on Mike Bianco's staff for seven seasons. MacMillan began as a director of operations from 2014-15 before being elevated to volunteer assistant coach in 2016. During his seven seasons, the Rebels boasted a record of 248-141, reaching five regionals, two super regionals and one College World Series.
THE APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR
Marc MacMillan will be the third member of Mike Bianco's coaching tree to face off against the Rebel skipper as a head coach. The other two Bianco disciples, Dan McDonnell at Louisville and Cliff Godwin at ECU, have built their programs into perennial powers. Despite the fierce competition, Bianco has fared well against his proteges, owning an 11-9 record (4-1 vs. Godwin, 7-8 vs. McDonnell).
STRONG STARTS
Ole Miss has won its home opener in 19 of the 21 seasons during the Mike Bianco era and has won the opening home series of the season in 18 of Bianco's 21 campaigns. The Rebels have dropped the opening series at Swayze just once, falling in 2-of-3 games to UCF last season.
STARS AND STRIPES
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco has been tapped as the manager for the 2022 USA Collegiate National Team for this upcoming summer, marking the Rebel skipper's managerial debut for the Red, White and Blue. It will be the second time donning a Team USA uniform for Bianco, who served as the pitching coach for the Collegiate National Team in 2013. Under Bianco's guidance, the USA posted a 1.87 ERA, a 20-3 record and 222 strikeouts. The remaining 2022 Collegiate National Team staff, as well as more information about the 2022 Collegiate National Team schedule, will be announced at a later date.
SPRING SHOWERS
Ranking 13th in the nation with 85 big flies, Ole Miss hit at least one home run in 50 of 67 games, posting multiple dingers 22 times. The Rebels went deep five times in the NCAA Oxford Regional clinching win over Southern Miss to set the season-high.
SWAYZE CRAZIES
Ole Miss led the nation in attendance in 2021 with 303,859 fans entering the gates at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field across 40 games. The Rebels' average attendance of 7,596 also ranked first in college baseball, with Ole Miss ranking as one of just three schools to average more than 4,000 fans per game. During the season, Ole Miss welcomed four of the top-10 single game crowds and two of the top-three series crowds ever seen in Oxford, setting the record in the three-game set against Arkansas.
Top-10 Single-Game Crowds
4. April 10 vs. Arkansas - 11,857
5. April 23 vs. LSU - 11,788
7. April 24 vs. LSU - 11,653
8. April 10 vs. Arkansas - 11,524
Top-3 Series Crowds
1. April 10-11 vs. Arkansas - 33,423
3. April 22-24 vs. LSU - 32,476
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Ole Miss is one of five programs to make at least 10 NCAA Regional appearances since 2004, joining Florida State, Florida, LSU and North Carolina. The Rebels are also one of eight programs to earn at least five regional bids since 2014, being joined by Florida State, Florida, LSU, Louisville, TCU, Vanderbilt and Texas Tech.
STARS IN THE MAKING
Ole Miss has six players ranked in D1Baseball's Top 2022 MLB Draft College Prospect Rankings. All six Rebels are ranked inside the top-150, tied for the most in the top-150 in the nation. Additionally, a pair of Rebs find themself in the top-100 for the 2023 rankings.
Rebels in the Top 2022 MLB Draft Prospect Rankings
• Hayden Dunhurst - No. 27
• TJ McCants* - No. 49
• Derek Diamond - No. 63
• Jack Washburn - No. 101
• Kevin Graham - No. 124
• Drew McDaniel - No. 133
Rebels in the Top 2023 MLB Draft Prospect Rankings
• Jacob Gonzalez - No. 2
• Jack Dougherty - No. 55
* - Draft eligible sophomore
STUDS AROUND THE DIAMOND
When D1Baseball released its top-50 position power rankings this offseason, Ole Miss was well represented, landing at least one player at every single position. In particular, the Rebels shine in the infield, sitting as the only team in the country with a player ranked inside the top-five at three different infield positions. The Rebels' full rankings can be found below:
Rebels in the Top-50 Position Rankings
• Jacob Gonzalez - No. 2 shortstop
• Hayden Dunhurst - No. 4 catcher
• Tim Elko - No. 5 first baseman
• Peyton Chatagnier - No. 13 second baseman
• Justin Bench - No. 25 third baseman
• Kevin Graham - No. 16 outfielder
• TJ McCants - No. 32 outfielder
• Derek Diamond - No. 40 starting pitcher
• Brandon Johnson - No. 41 relief pitcher
• Jack Dougherty - No. 62 relief pitcher
• Jack Washburn - No. 75 starting pitcher
• John Gaddis - No. 76 starting pitcher
• Drew McDaniel - No. 115 starting pitcher
RESPECT FROM THEIR PEERS
Ole Miss landed a league-high five players on the Preseason All-SEC team, having a player recognized at four of five infield positions.
Ole Miss Preseason All-SEC Selections
• Jacob Gonzalez - Shortstop - First Team
• Hayden Dunhurst - Catcher - Second Team
• Tim Elko - First Base - Second Team
• Peyton Chatagnier - Second Team
• Kevin Graham - Second Team
BRING YOUR GREEN HAT
Senior Kevin Graham owns the nation's longest reached base streak at 60 games, reaching safely in 65 of 67 games in 2021.
Longest Reached Base Streaks of 2021
Kevin Graham* - Ole Miss - 60
Connor Norby^ - ECU - 56
Liam Spence^ - Tennessee - 53
Jace Jung - Texas Tech - 50
Ruben Someillan - Jacksonville - 48
* - Active streak
^ - Streak dates back to 2020 season
YOU'RE GONZO GO FAR, KID
Bursting onto the scene last season with one of the greatest true freshmen seasons ever in a Rebel uniform, shortstop Jacob Gonzalez quickly established himself as one of the nation's elite young talents. In addition to being named D1Baseball's National Freshman of the Year, the California native joined Stephen head as the only Rebs ever to be named an All-American as a freshman, earning the honor from both D1Baseball and the NCBWA. Starting all 67 games at short, Gonzalez led all true freshmen in hits and runs scored. Poised for another big season, the sophomore has reeled in a myriad of preseason honors for 2022.
Gonzalez' Preseason Honor Round Up
• Preseason All-America (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game)
• First Team Preseason All-SEC
• D1Baseball No. 2 '23 College Draft Prospect
• D1Baseball No. 3 '23 College Draft SEC Prospect
• D1Baseball No. 2 ranked shortstop
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Ole Miss has three true freshmen ranked in D1Baseball's Top-50 SEC Impact Freshmen, all on the mound.
Rebels in the Top-50 SEC Impact Freshmen
• Riley Maddox - RHP - No. 16
• Hunter Elliott - LHP - No. 38
• Mason Nichols - RHP - No. 46
PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS
For the first time in his Rebel career, junior righty Derek Diamond will be the opening day starter for Ole Miss on Friday. One of the top-rated draft prospects in the country, Diamond has lived up to the billing in his first start of the season the past two years, going over five innings with three or less runs allowed in both outings.
Diamond First Start Recaps
• 2020 vs. No. 1 Louisville
- 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
• 2021 vs. No. 9 Texas
- 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB. 8 SO
COME TO THE SIP
With a pair of electric arms departing for the Major League Baseball Draft in Gunnar Hoglund and Doug Nikhazy, Ole Miss utilized the transfer portal to bring in some talent on the mound in Division I transfers John Gaddis and Jack Washburn. Both bring quality experience to the Rebel roster, with Gaddis pitching four seasons at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Washburn moving to Oxford after two seasons at Oregon State.
The Gaddis File
• 2021 All-Southland Second Team
• 13 appearances with 10 starts in 2021
• Won five games with a team-low 2.25 ERA
• 72 strikeouts in 64.0 innings of work
• 7.0 or more innings in 6-of-last-7 starts
The Washburn File
• Son of former MLB star Jarrod Washburn
• 21 appearances with five starts in 2021
• 3.12 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 34.2 innings
RUN IT UP
Featuring one of the most dangerous top-to-bottom lineups in the country last season, Ole Miss stacked runs on top of each other throughout the 2021 campaign. The Rebs scored at least five runs 44 times, reaching double digits 19 times. The pitching staff made the run support pay, posting a 37-7 record in games in which at least five runs were scored, winning 18 of the 19 contests with double-digit run support.
THAT'S GOLD, JERRY
Ole Miss' Hayden Dunhurst and Jacob Gonzalez were two of 55 players named to the 2022 Golden Spikes Award Preseason watch list, announced by USA Baseball. The Rebels are one of just eight teams with multiple players on the list, joining LSU, Arizona State, Arkansas, California, Florida, Texas and Vanderbilt.
RUB SOME DIRT ON IT
Senior Justin Bench showed a penchant for hanging in on inside pitches in 2021, leading the nation with 29 hit-by-pitches. Bench was the only Rebel to draw double-digit HBPs and the only SEC player with at least 20 pitches worn.
MISSISSIPPI MADE
Of the 41 players on the Ole Miss roster, 11 hail from the state of Mississippi. The 11 local products are tied for the most for the Rebels since 2017.
JUCO PRODUCTS
Ole Miss has nine junior college products on the 2022 roster, five of which are new additions. Four of the five JUCO players comes from schools within the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference.
HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Spending the 2021 season with just two left-handed pitchers on the roster, Ole Miss has bolstered the roster with three new lefties in transfer John Gaddis and true freshmen Hunter Elliott and Luke Ellis. Relief arm Jackson Kimbrell also returns to the Rebel roster.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on Twitter at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissBaseball, on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemissbsb and on TikTok at @olemissbsb. Also, follow head coach Mike Bianco on Twitter at @CoachMikeBianco.
