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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Breaking Down Baseball’s Projected Opening Weekend Pitching Rotation
2/13/2024 | Baseball
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss baseball team will go the 2024 season without two of its potential aces on the mound in Hunter Elliott and Xavier Rivas, but the Rebels still have plenty to be excited about with their pitching staff this spring.
Head coach Mike Bianco met with the media Friday to preview the season, including providing a projected lineup for opening day and pitching rotation for opening weekend.
Ole Miss opens the 2024 campaign on the road with a four-game series at Hawaii, starting Friday at 10:30 p.m. CT. The Rebels open their home schedule with a Wednesday midweek against Arkansas State. The first weekend series against High Point starts Friday at 4 p.m. CT.
Season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now at OleMissTix.com. Act fast to secure your ticket to college baseball's best atmosphere at Swayze Field.
Read on to see what the rotation will look like on opening weekend.
Game 1 – JT Quinn
JT Quinn was thrown into the fire as a freshman last season, making 17 appearances and 12 starts, the starts tying for the second-most on the team. After adding 10 pounds to his frame in the offseason, Quinn is poised to make a jump in Year 2 and will open the 2024 campaign as Ole Miss' Friday night starter.
Game 2 – Gunnar Dennis
As Bianco mentioned in his press conference, Gunnar Dennis has pitched it as well as anyone on the Rebel roster since he arrived on campus to earn the No. 2 starting role on opening weekend. A transfer from Meridian Community College, Dennis posted a 1.86 ERA during fall ball and has continued to pitch it well in the spring.
Game 3 – Grayson Saunier
Similar to Quinn, Saunier was sent into SEC action as a freshman, tying Quinn with 12 starts, behind only Rivas' 14. Also similar to Quinn, Saunier transformed his physique in the offseason and will be a key part of the Rebel rotation as a sophomore. Saunier was excellent this fall with a 3.07 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14.2 innings pitched.
Game 4 – Riley Maddox
Riley Maddox was an instrumental part of Ole Miss' 2022 national title team until an injury cut his year short. He returned late last season to shake off the rust, and the junior out of Jackson Prep is back in full to start 2024. He posted a 3.00 ERA in the fall with a team-best 5.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has continued to look strong this spring.
Bullpen
Bianco mentioned transfers Kyler Carmack and Liam Doyle as two pitchers who could potentially fill starting roles this season, as well as time in the bullpen. Ole Miss will pair a strong base of experienced returners, highlighted by Josh Mallitz and Mason Nichols, who were each vital to the 2022 title run. Mitch Murrell, Brayden Jones, Mason Morris and Sam Tookoian are all back as well with SEC experience under their belts. Bianco also mentioned several other newcomers—transfers Connor Spencer and Ryne Rodriguez and freshmen Wes Mendes, Hudson Calhoun and two-sport athlete Austin Simmons—as arms to watch out of the pen.
Head coach Mike Bianco met with the media Friday to preview the season, including providing a projected lineup for opening day and pitching rotation for opening weekend.
Ole Miss opens the 2024 campaign on the road with a four-game series at Hawaii, starting Friday at 10:30 p.m. CT. The Rebels open their home schedule with a Wednesday midweek against Arkansas State. The first weekend series against High Point starts Friday at 4 p.m. CT.
Season tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now at OleMissTix.com. Act fast to secure your ticket to college baseball's best atmosphere at Swayze Field.
Read on to see what the rotation will look like on opening weekend.
Game 1 – JT Quinn
JT Quinn was thrown into the fire as a freshman last season, making 17 appearances and 12 starts, the starts tying for the second-most on the team. After adding 10 pounds to his frame in the offseason, Quinn is poised to make a jump in Year 2 and will open the 2024 campaign as Ole Miss' Friday night starter.
Game 2 – Gunnar Dennis
As Bianco mentioned in his press conference, Gunnar Dennis has pitched it as well as anyone on the Rebel roster since he arrived on campus to earn the No. 2 starting role on opening weekend. A transfer from Meridian Community College, Dennis posted a 1.86 ERA during fall ball and has continued to pitch it well in the spring.
Game 3 – Grayson Saunier
Similar to Quinn, Saunier was sent into SEC action as a freshman, tying Quinn with 12 starts, behind only Rivas' 14. Also similar to Quinn, Saunier transformed his physique in the offseason and will be a key part of the Rebel rotation as a sophomore. Saunier was excellent this fall with a 3.07 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14.2 innings pitched.
Game 4 – Riley Maddox
Riley Maddox was an instrumental part of Ole Miss' 2022 national title team until an injury cut his year short. He returned late last season to shake off the rust, and the junior out of Jackson Prep is back in full to start 2024. He posted a 3.00 ERA in the fall with a team-best 5.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has continued to look strong this spring.
Bullpen
Bianco mentioned transfers Kyler Carmack and Liam Doyle as two pitchers who could potentially fill starting roles this season, as well as time in the bullpen. Ole Miss will pair a strong base of experienced returners, highlighted by Josh Mallitz and Mason Nichols, who were each vital to the 2022 title run. Mitch Murrell, Brayden Jones, Mason Morris and Sam Tookoian are all back as well with SEC experience under their belts. Bianco also mentioned several other newcomers—transfers Connor Spencer and Ryne Rodriguez and freshmen Wes Mendes, Hudson Calhoun and two-sport athlete Austin Simmons—as arms to watch out of the pen.
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