The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, March 6
Oxford, Miss.
3 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Evansville
Baseball Hosts Evansville for Final Non-Conference Series at Swayze Field
3/5/2026 | Baseball
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss Baseball (12-2) hosts Evansville (3-8) for their final non-conference series of the season at Swayze Field. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 3 p.m.
Scheduling plans for the series finale continue to be evaluated as we monitor the weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday. An update will be announced as soon as it is finalized.
LEADING OFF
Game 1: LHP Hunter Elliott (1-0, 3.68 ERA) vs. LHP Kenton Deverman (0-2, 11.12 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Cade Townsend (1-0, 0.66 ERA) vs. RHP Max Hansmann (1-0, 2.12 ERA)
Game 3: LHP Wil Libbert (1-1, 4.91 ERA) vs. LHP Kevin Reed (2-1, 5.68 ERA)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
All three games can be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Jake Hromada (PxP) and Keith Kessinger (analyst) on the call for Friday's doubleheader. Hromada will be joined by former Rebel pitcher Jamey Price for the series finale.
Fans can listen to all Ole Miss Baseball games, home and away, on the Ole Miss Radio Network with David Kellum (PxP) and Brad Henderson (analyst) on the call.
SCOUTING REPORT
Head coach Wes Carroll has entered his 18th campaign as the Aces' skipper. He's accumulated nearly 450 wins for the program, which is good for second all-time in program history.
The Purple Aces are just two years removed from their second MVC Tournament title in 2024, the same year in which they made their first-ever NCAA Regional Championship appearance, winning the Greenville (N.C.) Regional. Carroll won the ABCA/ATEC Midwest Regional Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Last season saw the Aces take a step back, recording a 17-37 record with 10-17 mark against conference opponents. This season has seen a similar start, as Evansville is 3-8 entering this weekend's series. Evansville started this season 0-5, before a slim 1-0 victory over No. 18 Kentucky ended the drought and prevented a sweep. Despite its record, Evansville has yet to be swept this season and is coming off a series win over Milwaukee last weekend.
The Aces have struggled at the dish thus far this season, as no players are hitting above .300. Spike Magil leads the way with a .286 batting average, but he's only appeared in nine games. Wyatt Pennington is the most consistent everyday starter as a utility player and pitcher, batting .244. Outfielder Reid Haire has a pair of home runs so far this season, which leads the team.
Evansville's weekend rotation this season has consisted of lefty's Kenton Deverman on Friday and Kevin Reed on Sunday, with right-hander Max Hansmann sandwiched between on Saturday. Hansmann leads the team with 19 strikeouts with a 2.12 ERA, the best of any starter on the team. As a trio, they combine for a 3-3 overall record, with Deverman being the weak link at 0-2 and an 11.12 ERA. Owen Byberg has been a solid relief pitcher for the Aces, making four mound appearances with a 1.32 ERA. He's earned one save, and batters are hitting .208 against him.
CALIFORNIA DEALIN'
Cade Townsend sports a 0.66 ERA after three starts, the fourth-lowest ERA among all SEC pitchers. His 25 strikeouts are the sixth-most in the SEC and only five behind Texas' Ruger Riojas who leads the conference with 30.
The California native has struck out eight or more batters in each of his three starts and set a new career high of nine last weekend against Ohio State. His five innings of work were also a career high.
OUT FOR A WALK
Dom Decker currently leads the SEC and is fifth in the NCAA in walks, drawing 18 free passes over his first 14 games. He is just five walks behind the national leader, Long Beach State's Camden Gasser who has 23.
Decker has drawn 10 walks over his last five games and is averaging 1.29 walks per game on the season. He has reached base safely in all 14 games he has played so far.
HOME RUN RACE
After hitting two home runs on Tuesday against Memphis, Judd Utermark now sits at 37 career home runs which is 11 shy of the Ole Miss all-time record. He passed David Dellucci and Michael Rosamond this week and now sits in a tie with Burney Hutchinson and Stephen Head for eighth all time.
Ole Miss Career Home Run List
1. Kyle Gordon 48
2. Tim Elko 46
3. Matt Smith & Matt Snyder 41
5. Brad Henderson & Jacob Gonzalez 40
7. Kevin Graham 38
8. Judd Utermark 37
8. Burney Hutchinson & Stephen Head 37
10. David Dellucci & Michael Rosamond 36
EARLY LEAD
Ole Miss is outscoring opponents 59-18 over the first three innings. They have scored 26 runs in the first inning and scored at least once in the first inning in 10 of their 14 games. The Rebels are 10-0 when scoring in the first inning.
ROTO-REUTER
Collin Reuter is hitting .463 with eight doubles and 15 RBI over his first 13 games of 2026. His eight doubles lead the SEC and is the second-highest number in the NCAA. Reuter also owns the third-highest batting average in the SEC among qualified hitters.
Reuter also owns the sixth-highest on base percentage in the SEC and is top 20 in both RBI and slugging percentage.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Brett Moseley and Tate Sirmans each launched a home run for their first collegiate hit Opening Weekend against Nevada. Moseley hit a pinch-hit, two-RBI home run in the eighth inning of game one and Sirmans hit a solo shot in the fourth inning of game two. It was also Sirmans' first career start.
Moseley and Sirmans join a decent sized list of Rebels who hit a home run for their first career hit. Will Furniss and Judd Utermark each hit a pinch-hit home run for their first hits in 2023 when they were freshmen. Austin Fawley also hit a home run for his first career hit as a redshirt freshman at Kentucky in 2024.
FRESH START
Tristan Bissetta has two multi-homer games already under his belt, one against Jackson State and one against Baylor. He had never hit more than one home run in a game before coming to Ole Miss.
On February 18 against Jackson State, Bissetta hit two home runs in the third inning, becoming the first Rebel to accomplish the feat in almost a decade. Nick Fortes was the last Rebel to hit two home runs in the same inning, doing so in 2017 against ULM.
He has already surpassed both his home run and RBI totals from 2025.
BIG GAME HUNTER
Hunter Elliott returns to the Ole Miss rotation as the most experienced pitcher on the staff. He turned in one of the best seasons in Rebel history last year, becoming just the fifth pitcher to record a 10-win, 100-strikeout season finishing with a 10-3 record and 102 punchouts. He also became just the fourth pitcher in program history to record 100+ strikeouts in two different seasons. His 2.94 ERA was the lowest by a Rebel starting pitcher since his freshman season when he finished with an ERA of 2.70.
Elliott is the only returning pitcher in the country to have earned 10+ wins and struck out 100+ hitters in 2025.
BRING THE BOOM
The Ole Miss offense set a new program record for home runs in a season in 2025, crushing 124 home runs. It was just the second time in program history that an Ole Miss team has cracked the 100-home run mark.
The Rebels finished fifth nationally in total home runs, ninth nationally in home runs per game (1.94), and 13th nationally in walks drawn (345). They were one of just four programs in the country to have two 20+ home run hitters and one of six programs to finish with 100+ home runs, 100+ doubles, and 100+ hit by pitches.
There are only 16 returning players who hit 20 or more home runs in 2025 and three of them will be in Ole Miss' Opening Day lineup: Judd Utermark, Austin Fawley, and Daniel Pacella.
BASH BROS
Judd Utermark and Austin Fawley both broke the 20-home run mark in 2025, becoming the first pair of Rebel teammates in program history to each hit 20+ home runs in a single season.
Utermark finished with 22 home runs, the second-most by a Rebel in a single season, just two shy of the program record of 24 set by Tim Elko in 2022.
The 2025 Rebels finished with three hitters with 15+ home runs for the first time in program history and six hitters with 10+ home runs, also for the first time in program history.
IMPROVEMENT ON THE MOUND
In the first season under pitching coach Joel Mangrum, the Ole Miss pitching staff finished sixth nationally in total strikeouts. They struck out 669 hitters, 127 more than their total from 2024, which was the largest increase in the country.
The staff also finished 12th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 10.8 strikeouts per game.
D1BASEBALL PRESEASON PLAYER RANKINGS
Ole Miss was well represented in D1Baseball's annual Preseason Player Rankings, placing at least one player at almost every position. Hunter Elliott was the highest ranked Rebel coming in at No. 5 on the list of Starting Pitchers. Cade Townsend also made the list at No. 117.
Austin Fawley was ranked as the No. 8 Catcher, Judd Utermark was ranked as the No. 10 Third Baseman, Dom Decker was ranked the No. 26 Second Baseman, and Will Furniss was ranked the No. 30 First Baseman. Daniel Pacella came in at No. 59 on the list of Outfielders and Landon Koenig (#51) and Owen Kelly (#78) each made the list of Relief Pitchers.
PRESEASON AWARDS
Hunter Elliott has been one of the most decorated players heading into the 2026 season. He was named to the 2026 Golden Spikes Award Watch List and earned Preseason All-America honors from the NCBWA, Perfect Game, D1Baseball, The Diamond Report, and Just Baseball Media. He was also named to the Preseason All-SEC Team that is voted on by the league's head coaches.
Judd Utermark was named a Preseason All-American by the NCBWA and Will Furniss was named to the Preseason All-SEC Team at first base. Austin Fawley was one of 10 catchers in the country to make the 2026 Buster Posey Preseason Watch List.
NEW FACES IN THE DUGOUT
Ole Miss added 19 new faces to the roster for the 2026 season, 10 transfers and nine freshmen. With 21 overall letterwinners lost from the 2025 season, the newest Rebels will look to make an immediate impact on the field.
Daniel Pacella and Tristan Bissetta, both Division I transfers, will man the corner outfield positions in 2026. Pacella comes from Illinois State where he hit .310 with 48 home runs over 107 games for the Redbirds. He hit 20 home runs in 2025, the second-most in program history. Bissetta spent his first three seasons at Clemson, hitting .266 over 87 games. He hit .298 in 2024 before his 2025 season was cut short by an arm injury.
Dom Decker will be injected into the infield after having a breakout season with Murray State in 2025. He started in 60 games for the Racers, hitting .351 with an on-base percentage of .496 which was top 40 in the NCAA.
Wil Libbert opens the season as the third member of the weekend rotation after spending his two seasons at Missouri. He worked 53.2 innings over 11 starts in 2025, striking out 55 hitters and posting a record of 3-4.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on X 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 X at @CoachMikeBianco.
Scheduling plans for the series finale continue to be evaluated as we monitor the weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday. An update will be announced as soon as it is finalized.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss swept their midweeks this week, picking up wins over Memphis and North Alabama.
- Freshman Grayson Gibson earned the win over Memphis, working four hitless innings and striking out five while allowing just one baserunner.
- Marko Sipila made his first start against North Alabama, striking out seven over three innings. The only baserunner he allowed came on a solo home run in the first inning.
- The pitching staff racked up 48 strikeouts last weekend in Houston, punching out 20 of those in 10 innings against Baylor on Friday.
- Hunter Elliott, Cade Townsend, and Taylor Rabe all set new career highs for strikeouts in a game with their outings.
- Townsend and Rabe combined for a six-hit shutout of Ohio State on Saturday, striking out 16 of the 34 batters they faced.
- Dom Decker hit three home runs over the weekend in Houston, bringing his season total to four. He had not hit a home run in his career prior to this season.
- Decker now leads the SEC and is ranked fifth in the nation in walks with 18 free passes. He is averaging 1.29 walks per game.
- Ole Miss as a team has drawn 92 walks over 14 games, second in the SEC and seventh in the NCAA.
- Ole Miss pitchers are now up to 176 total strikeouts on the season, the second most in the SEC and the third-highest total in the NCAA.
- The Rebel pitching staff owns the second-lowest ERA in the SEC at 2.75 and the third-highest K/9 at 13.1.
- Cade Townsend has struck out eight or more batters in each of his outings so far. His 25 punchouts are top-25 in the NCAA and his K/9 of 16.46 is top-10 in the NCAA.
- Judd Utermark leads the SEC in runs scored, scoring 23 times in 14 games. He is second in the NCAA trailing only UNLV's Marcos Rosales.
Game 1: LHP Hunter Elliott (1-0, 3.68 ERA) vs. LHP Kenton Deverman (0-2, 11.12 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Cade Townsend (1-0, 0.66 ERA) vs. RHP Max Hansmann (1-0, 2.12 ERA)
Game 3: LHP Wil Libbert (1-1, 4.91 ERA) vs. LHP Kevin Reed (2-1, 5.68 ERA)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
All three games can be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Jake Hromada (PxP) and Keith Kessinger (analyst) on the call for Friday's doubleheader. Hromada will be joined by former Rebel pitcher Jamey Price for the series finale.
Fans can listen to all Ole Miss Baseball games, home and away, on the Ole Miss Radio Network with David Kellum (PxP) and Brad Henderson (analyst) on the call.
SCOUTING REPORT
Head coach Wes Carroll has entered his 18th campaign as the Aces' skipper. He's accumulated nearly 450 wins for the program, which is good for second all-time in program history.
The Purple Aces are just two years removed from their second MVC Tournament title in 2024, the same year in which they made their first-ever NCAA Regional Championship appearance, winning the Greenville (N.C.) Regional. Carroll won the ABCA/ATEC Midwest Regional Coach of the Year for his efforts.
Last season saw the Aces take a step back, recording a 17-37 record with 10-17 mark against conference opponents. This season has seen a similar start, as Evansville is 3-8 entering this weekend's series. Evansville started this season 0-5, before a slim 1-0 victory over No. 18 Kentucky ended the drought and prevented a sweep. Despite its record, Evansville has yet to be swept this season and is coming off a series win over Milwaukee last weekend.
The Aces have struggled at the dish thus far this season, as no players are hitting above .300. Spike Magil leads the way with a .286 batting average, but he's only appeared in nine games. Wyatt Pennington is the most consistent everyday starter as a utility player and pitcher, batting .244. Outfielder Reid Haire has a pair of home runs so far this season, which leads the team.
Evansville's weekend rotation this season has consisted of lefty's Kenton Deverman on Friday and Kevin Reed on Sunday, with right-hander Max Hansmann sandwiched between on Saturday. Hansmann leads the team with 19 strikeouts with a 2.12 ERA, the best of any starter on the team. As a trio, they combine for a 3-3 overall record, with Deverman being the weak link at 0-2 and an 11.12 ERA. Owen Byberg has been a solid relief pitcher for the Aces, making four mound appearances with a 1.32 ERA. He's earned one save, and batters are hitting .208 against him.
CALIFORNIA DEALIN'
Cade Townsend sports a 0.66 ERA after three starts, the fourth-lowest ERA among all SEC pitchers. His 25 strikeouts are the sixth-most in the SEC and only five behind Texas' Ruger Riojas who leads the conference with 30.
The California native has struck out eight or more batters in each of his three starts and set a new career high of nine last weekend against Ohio State. His five innings of work were also a career high.
OUT FOR A WALK
Dom Decker currently leads the SEC and is fifth in the NCAA in walks, drawing 18 free passes over his first 14 games. He is just five walks behind the national leader, Long Beach State's Camden Gasser who has 23.
Decker has drawn 10 walks over his last five games and is averaging 1.29 walks per game on the season. He has reached base safely in all 14 games he has played so far.
HOME RUN RACE
After hitting two home runs on Tuesday against Memphis, Judd Utermark now sits at 37 career home runs which is 11 shy of the Ole Miss all-time record. He passed David Dellucci and Michael Rosamond this week and now sits in a tie with Burney Hutchinson and Stephen Head for eighth all time.
Ole Miss Career Home Run List
1. Kyle Gordon 48
2. Tim Elko 46
3. Matt Smith & Matt Snyder 41
5. Brad Henderson & Jacob Gonzalez 40
7. Kevin Graham 38
8. Judd Utermark 37
8. Burney Hutchinson & Stephen Head 37
10. David Dellucci & Michael Rosamond 36
EARLY LEAD
Ole Miss is outscoring opponents 59-18 over the first three innings. They have scored 26 runs in the first inning and scored at least once in the first inning in 10 of their 14 games. The Rebels are 10-0 when scoring in the first inning.
ROTO-REUTER
Collin Reuter is hitting .463 with eight doubles and 15 RBI over his first 13 games of 2026. His eight doubles lead the SEC and is the second-highest number in the NCAA. Reuter also owns the third-highest batting average in the SEC among qualified hitters.
Reuter also owns the sixth-highest on base percentage in the SEC and is top 20 in both RBI and slugging percentage.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Brett Moseley and Tate Sirmans each launched a home run for their first collegiate hit Opening Weekend against Nevada. Moseley hit a pinch-hit, two-RBI home run in the eighth inning of game one and Sirmans hit a solo shot in the fourth inning of game two. It was also Sirmans' first career start.
Moseley and Sirmans join a decent sized list of Rebels who hit a home run for their first career hit. Will Furniss and Judd Utermark each hit a pinch-hit home run for their first hits in 2023 when they were freshmen. Austin Fawley also hit a home run for his first career hit as a redshirt freshman at Kentucky in 2024.
FRESH START
Tristan Bissetta has two multi-homer games already under his belt, one against Jackson State and one against Baylor. He had never hit more than one home run in a game before coming to Ole Miss.
On February 18 against Jackson State, Bissetta hit two home runs in the third inning, becoming the first Rebel to accomplish the feat in almost a decade. Nick Fortes was the last Rebel to hit two home runs in the same inning, doing so in 2017 against ULM.
He has already surpassed both his home run and RBI totals from 2025.
BIG GAME HUNTER
Hunter Elliott returns to the Ole Miss rotation as the most experienced pitcher on the staff. He turned in one of the best seasons in Rebel history last year, becoming just the fifth pitcher to record a 10-win, 100-strikeout season finishing with a 10-3 record and 102 punchouts. He also became just the fourth pitcher in program history to record 100+ strikeouts in two different seasons. His 2.94 ERA was the lowest by a Rebel starting pitcher since his freshman season when he finished with an ERA of 2.70.
Elliott is the only returning pitcher in the country to have earned 10+ wins and struck out 100+ hitters in 2025.
BRING THE BOOM
The Ole Miss offense set a new program record for home runs in a season in 2025, crushing 124 home runs. It was just the second time in program history that an Ole Miss team has cracked the 100-home run mark.
The Rebels finished fifth nationally in total home runs, ninth nationally in home runs per game (1.94), and 13th nationally in walks drawn (345). They were one of just four programs in the country to have two 20+ home run hitters and one of six programs to finish with 100+ home runs, 100+ doubles, and 100+ hit by pitches.
There are only 16 returning players who hit 20 or more home runs in 2025 and three of them will be in Ole Miss' Opening Day lineup: Judd Utermark, Austin Fawley, and Daniel Pacella.
BASH BROS
Judd Utermark and Austin Fawley both broke the 20-home run mark in 2025, becoming the first pair of Rebel teammates in program history to each hit 20+ home runs in a single season.
Utermark finished with 22 home runs, the second-most by a Rebel in a single season, just two shy of the program record of 24 set by Tim Elko in 2022.
The 2025 Rebels finished with three hitters with 15+ home runs for the first time in program history and six hitters with 10+ home runs, also for the first time in program history.
IMPROVEMENT ON THE MOUND
In the first season under pitching coach Joel Mangrum, the Ole Miss pitching staff finished sixth nationally in total strikeouts. They struck out 669 hitters, 127 more than their total from 2024, which was the largest increase in the country.
The staff also finished 12th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 10.8 strikeouts per game.
D1BASEBALL PRESEASON PLAYER RANKINGS
Ole Miss was well represented in D1Baseball's annual Preseason Player Rankings, placing at least one player at almost every position. Hunter Elliott was the highest ranked Rebel coming in at No. 5 on the list of Starting Pitchers. Cade Townsend also made the list at No. 117.
Austin Fawley was ranked as the No. 8 Catcher, Judd Utermark was ranked as the No. 10 Third Baseman, Dom Decker was ranked the No. 26 Second Baseman, and Will Furniss was ranked the No. 30 First Baseman. Daniel Pacella came in at No. 59 on the list of Outfielders and Landon Koenig (#51) and Owen Kelly (#78) each made the list of Relief Pitchers.
PRESEASON AWARDS
Hunter Elliott has been one of the most decorated players heading into the 2026 season. He was named to the 2026 Golden Spikes Award Watch List and earned Preseason All-America honors from the NCBWA, Perfect Game, D1Baseball, The Diamond Report, and Just Baseball Media. He was also named to the Preseason All-SEC Team that is voted on by the league's head coaches.
Judd Utermark was named a Preseason All-American by the NCBWA and Will Furniss was named to the Preseason All-SEC Team at first base. Austin Fawley was one of 10 catchers in the country to make the 2026 Buster Posey Preseason Watch List.
NEW FACES IN THE DUGOUT
Ole Miss added 19 new faces to the roster for the 2026 season, 10 transfers and nine freshmen. With 21 overall letterwinners lost from the 2025 season, the newest Rebels will look to make an immediate impact on the field.
Daniel Pacella and Tristan Bissetta, both Division I transfers, will man the corner outfield positions in 2026. Pacella comes from Illinois State where he hit .310 with 48 home runs over 107 games for the Redbirds. He hit 20 home runs in 2025, the second-most in program history. Bissetta spent his first three seasons at Clemson, hitting .266 over 87 games. He hit .298 in 2024 before his 2025 season was cut short by an arm injury.
Dom Decker will be injected into the infield after having a breakout season with Murray State in 2025. He started in 60 games for the Racers, hitting .351 with an on-base percentage of .496 which was top 40 in the NCAA.
Wil Libbert opens the season as the third member of the weekend rotation after spending his two seasons at Missouri. He worked 53.2 innings over 11 starts in 2025, striking out 55 hitters and posting a record of 3-4.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on X 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 X at @CoachMikeBianco.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C/IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
UT
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ BaseballPRESSER | Collin Reuter - North Alabama Postgame (3/4/26)
Wednesday, March 04
PRESSER | Marko Sipila - North Alabama Postgame (3/4/26)
Wednesday, March 04
PRESSER | Mike Bianco - North Alabama Postgame (3/4/26)
Wednesday, March 04
HIGHLIGHTS: Baseball vs. North Alabama (3/4/26)
Wednesday, March 04