Junior Connor Cloyd (27) runs to first base after batting during the baseball game against the Central Arkansas. (DM Photo | Marlee Crawford)
After splitting two midweek games against Central Arkansas and Memphis, the Ole Miss baseball team continues to attempt a postseason push with a home series against Alabama this weekend.
The Rebels come into the series with a 21-21 overall record and will be looking to finish strong in the last 15 games of the season. The Rebels will try to finish with an above .500 record in order to be eligible for an NCAA tournament berth. Ole Miss is currently listed as a two seed in the Champagne regional for the NCAA Tournament, according to D1 Baseball.
Alabama comes into the series after two midweek wins against Mississippi Valley State. The Crimson Tide are in a similar record of 20-18 (7-11 SEC) and remain firmly on the bubble with regards to their NCAA tournament hopes.
Friday night will feature a great pitching matchup. Junior left-hander Christian Trent will square off against Alabama senior left-hander Taylor Guilbeau. Trent comes into the game with a 5-4 record and a 4.09 ERA. Trent will be looking to rebound after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in his Ole Miss career. Guilbeau comes into the game with a 2-3 record and a 3.29 ERA. Gilbeau has not received a lot of run support in his starts this year.
Junior right-hander Brady Bramlett will take the ball for the Rebels Saturday and freshman Will Stokes will pitch on Sunday.
Alabama will start sophomore right-hander Geoffrey Bramblett on Saturday and junior right-hander Will Carter on Sunday. Bramblett sports a 5-2 record with a 4.22 ERA while Carter is 2-5 with a 5.40 ERA.
The Tide are led offensively by sophomore right-fielder Casey Hughston and junior shortstop Mikey White. Hughston leads the team in home runs with five as well as leading the team with a .363 batting average. White is second on the team with a .353 average, and in home runs with four. Hughston and White along with junior second baseman Kyle Overstreet, who leads the team in RBIs with 32, will give the Rebel pitchers all they can handle in the middle part of Crimson Tide batting order.
Ole Miss will look to continue to get offensive production from the hot bats of junior outfielder Connor Cloyd and sophomore third baseman Colby Bortles. Cloyd is coming off of seven hits in nine plate appearances in the two midweek games. Bortles continues to consistently swing a hot bat as he has now reached base in 19 of his last 20 games and leads the team with 34 RBIs.
“I think I’ve been seeing the ball better lately, just trying to get my pitch and not swing at bad pitches,” Bortles said. “I’m just trying to see the pitch and drive it.”
This weekend is an opportunity for the Rebels to get on a run and finish strong over the last 15 games of the season. Three of Ole Miss’s last four weekend series come at home as they look to find some consistency.
The Rebels are very aware of how important each game is and what they need to do to reach the postseason.
“Coach talks about it, we’ve got to be above .500 to make the postseason and to make a regional and make a run,” senior right-hander Sam Smith said. “If we can take care of business over these last 15 games we will be fine.”
The Rebels remain confident about their ability to play good baseball down the stretch.
“We’ve done it against the best competition in the country,” head coach Mike Bianco said. “It’d be one thing if he hadn’t done it this year but we have.”
“If we can just be consistent and play good, I believe there is not a better team in the country when we’re clicking on all cylinders,” Bortles said.
First pitch Friday is set for 6:30 p.m.
