Mississippi Errol Robinson (6) runs to first base during Tuesday’s game against UAB. (File Photo | Jason Zhang)
The Rebels are hoping for a win this week on the road at Arkansas after being swept in the doubleheader against UAB Tuesday.
It was a disappointing performance in every aspect of the game for the Rebels in the doubleheader, as hitting and pitching lacked immensely. The high-powered bats in the Rebel lineup struggled, totaling 11 hits and two runs scored total in both games of the doubleheader. Eight hits were in the first game and three hits were in the second game.
The struggles of the pitching staff continued for the Rebels as the challenge to find a solid mid-week starter continued.
Senior right-hander Sam Smith continued his early season struggles, allowing four runs on three hits in only three innings of work in the loss of game one of the doubleheader. Sophomore left-hander Evan Anderson struggled along with Smith, surrendering three runs on six hits in 3.2 innings of work. Anderson, the normal midweek starter, has not been the answer during the week, and it has cost the Rebels some key wins on the schedule.
Solidifying the midweek and Sunday starter in the starting pitching rotation is a huge problem facing the Rebels for the rest of the season. They’ll need to find answers to those problems quickly as they face a good Arkansas team on the road for a three-game series starting tonight.
The Razorbacks have had a hard time so far this season, holding a 11-12 overall record going 1-5 in Southeastern Conference play. The Razorbacks were swept by the defending national champions the Vanderbilt Commodores and dropped two out of three against LSU at home. The Razorbacks have also had some puzzling losses over the season, including Loyola-Marymount, Gonzaga and Southeastern Missouri. Arkansas will be coming off a home-and-home series against Memphis before their matchup against Ole Miss. The last time Ole Miss and Arkansas played, Arkansas knocked the Rebels out of the 2014 SEC Tournament 8-7.
Arkansas is led by sophomore right-hander Dominic Taccolini who is the anchor of the pitching staff. The Sugar Land, Texas, native is 4-2 on the season with a 3.21 ERA. Taccolini will get the start tonight against senior left-hander Christian Trent in what looks to be a great pitching matchup. Taccolini is not the only solid starter in the rotation as junior right-hander Trey Killian has emerged as the second starter in the Razorback rotation. Killian will get the start Friday for Arkansas since he has pitched well as the second starter in the rotation.
Four Razorbacks are hitting over a .300 average for the season and are batting .291 as a team. The offense is led by junior infielder Bobby Werns and sophomore outfielder Andrew Benintendi. Werns is batting .338 for the season, and Benintendi leads the Razorbacks with 26 hits, 22 RBIs and six home runs on the season.
Even with a 13-12 overall record, there is no need to panic yet for Ole Miss; the Rebels have played the nation’s toughest with the opponents having a winning percentage of .680. The last time the Rebels started with a similar record was in 2006. Ole Miss started 13-11 overall that year and finished with a 44-22 overall record.
The offense will need to put up more runs, and the back end of the starting rotation needs to perform better in order for Ole Miss to win a series against another SEC opponent on the road.
