Mississippi players talk at the end of an ending in a game last week. (File Photo)
The Rebels are hoping to add to their momentum after a midweek win against Memphis Tuesday night as they will host Tennessee in a three-game series beginning this Friday.
The Rebels will look to rebound in conference play after dropping two out of three games on the road to Arkansas last weekend.
Ole Miss comes into the game with a 15-14 record and a 4-5 record in Southeastern Conference play. The Rebels will look to sustain the success they had at the plate during the Memphis game earlier this week. The Rebel bats pounded out seven runs on 13 hits as a team Tuesday. Sophomore outfielder J.B. Woodman, freshman infielder Will Golsan and sophomore third baseman Colby Bortles all had three hits Tuesday. Bortles has come on as of late after a big weekend at the plate against Arkansas which included a home run and a couple of RBI’s.
Tennessee comes into the game with an 11-13 overall record and a 2-7 record in Southeastern Conference play. The Volunteers have struggled so far this season but come to Oxford looking to get back on track after playing a couple of tough opponents. Tennessee has already had to face 6th ranked Florida and top ranked Vanderbilt through just three weeks over conference play. The Volunteers will come in battle-tested and eager to grab a series win.
Senior right-hander Bret Marks will square off against the Rebels’ junior left-handed ace Christian Trent on Friday night in what is set to be a great pitching battle. Marks will be more than up to the task as he has shut out two of the three SEC opponents he has faced this year. Marks will be looking to rebound after getting roughed up—giving up eight runs to Vanderbilt—last Friday night.
The Rebels will likely have the edge in pitching Saturday because of the success sophomore right-hander Brady Bramlett has had this year. Bramlett holds a 4-1 record with a 1.79 ERA on the year and will be facing junior left-hander Drake Owenby for the Volunteers. Owenby has struggled at times this year posting a 1-3 record and a 3.31 ERA.
Ole Miss will come into the weekend feeling a little better about their Sunday starting pitching situation. Freshman right-hander Will Stokes showed a big sign of improvement last weekend against Arkansas. Stokes cruised through four innings and retired his first ten batters before running into trouble in the fifth inning.
Finding a solid Sunday starter has been a problem for the Rebels, and this Sunday will be another audition as well as an opportunity for the young right-hander to win the job.
This weekend will be an opportunity for the Rebels to get back on track and potentially gain some ground in the SEC standings. Ole Miss currently sits at 4-5 and in a tie for third place in the SEC West with Alabama. The Rebels trail LSU by one game for second place and are three games behind Texas A&M for first place.
First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m on Friday.
