The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Murray State
No. 17 Baseball Takes On Undefeated Murray State Wednesday Night
3/4/2025 | Baseball
OXFORD, Miss. – No. 17 Ole Miss Baseball looks to keep things rolling as they welcome undefeated Murray State to Swayze Field Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss has now won nine games in a row after sweeping Wright State over the weekend.
- The Rebels outscored the Raiders 24-7 during the series and have now allowed more than five runs just twice this season.
- Ole Miss was ranked in three polls this week, slotted at No. 17 by D1Baseball and No. 19 by both Baseball America and the USA Today coaches' poll.
- Ole Miss' three ranked wins in February are the most in the opening month of the season since 2021.
- The Rebels' current ERA of 3.10 is the lowest through the first 11 games of the season since 2022.
- They are ranked eighth in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 12.5 punchouts per game.
- Ole Miss is also ranked 12th in total strikeouts (133) and 27th in ERA (3.10).
- Hunter Elliott is one of 21 qualifying pitchers to not have allowed an earned run this season and just one of four to not allow a run and work 16+ innings.
- Ole Miss is ranked 16th in the NCAA in home runs (20) and home runs per game (1.82) and ranked 24th in walks drawn (72).
- Ryan Moerman, Judd Utermark, Luke Hill, and Mitchell Sanford each have double-digit RBIs through 11 games, driving in 47 of the Rebels' 86 runs scored.
- Utermark is riding a three-game home run streak, hitting one long ball in each game over the weekend.
- Luke Cheng is currently sporting an on-base percentage of .533, third-best on the team, despite being 1-for-7 at the plate. He has four walks, 3 hit by pitches, and two sacrifices in just five games played.
- Freshman Hayden Federico leads the team in batting average, on base percentage, and stolen bases.
- Federico also has at least one hit in every game he has played in and has not struck out in his career.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUP
RHP Taylor Rabe (Career Debut) vs. RHP Jacob Hustedde (0-0, 9.00 ERA)
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for all home games at Swayze Field can be purchased here. Season tickets are still available for the 2025 season and can be purchased here.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Wednesday's game will be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Jake Hromada (PxP) and Matt McLaughlin (analyst) on the call.
Fans can also listen to the game on the Ole Miss Radio Network with Gary Darby (PxP) and Brad Henderson (analyst) on the call.
SCOUTING REPORT
Dan Skirka is in his seventh season at the helm of the Murray State Baseball program.
During the 2023-24 season, the Racers finished with a 37-20 record (17-10 MVC) which marked Murray State's second-highest win total in program history.
The Racers are currently 7-0 (0-0 MVC) in the 2025 season and are coming off of a series sweep over Little Rock where Murray State outscored the Trojans 36-14 throughout the series matchup.
The Rebels hold an overall record of 21-4-1 over the Racers. The last meeting between the foes was in the 2024 season where Murray State walked away with a 12-9 win over the Rebels in a 15-inning showdown.
GET US STARTED
Ole Miss' starting rotation of Hunter Elliott, Riley Maddox, and Mason Nichols are sporting a combined ERA of 2.90 through the first three weeks of the season. They have allowed just 13 total runs and struck out 53 batters over 40.1 innings of work. Elliott and Nichols have each reached the 10 punchout mark in a start this season, tying or setting new career-highs.
RETURN OF THE KING
Hunter Elliott has dominated in so far in his return to the mound after not pitching for nearly two years. He has made three starts, picked up three wins, and has yet to allow a run to score. Elliott is one of 21 qualifying (1 IP/game) pitchers in the NCAA to have not allowed a run yet this season. He is just one of four pitchers to have not allowed a run and worked 16 or more innings.
FEDERICO SUAVE
Eight games into Hayden Federico's career, the freshman currently leads the team in batting average, on base percentage, and stolen bases. He has at least one hit in every game he has played in and is one of only three Rebels with a three-hit game this season.
Federico has yet to strikeout in his career and has scored at least once in every game but one.
IT JUST MEANS MORE, MAN
Ryan Moerman hit .444 last week with four doubles, two home runs, and eight runs scored last week as the Illinois transfer continues to heat up at the plate. Moerman is up to .357 on the season while leading the team in slugging at .762 and multiple-hit games with five total.
HOOK 'EM
Walker Hooks has made four appearances already in his young career allowing just two baserunners, one of whom he picked off, over six innings of work. He made his debut on February 15 against No. 19 Texas, coming out of the bullpen with the bases loaded and just one out. He struck out the first two hitters he faced and would go on to retire all eight he saw. The freshman is up to nine total strikeouts and is holding opponents to a .100 batting average against.
