BY MATT SIGLER
mcsigler@go.olemiss.edu
After a much needed Southeastern Conference series sweep this past weekend over Tennessee, the No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels will travel to Jonesboro, Ark., to take on non-conference foe Arkansas State. The Rebels (29-12, 10-8 SEC) and Red Wolves (22-18, 8-10 Sun Belt) met earlier this season with Ole Miss taking the 10-4 victory at home.
Although Ole Miss has won six consecutive SEC match-ups, the Rebels haven’t won a midweek, non-conference game since defeating the Red Wolves on March 27, dropping contests to Mississippi State, Memphis and Southern Miss during that timespan.
Sophomore right-hander Josh Laxer will get the start for Ole Miss. He also started the previous matchup with Arkansas State, going 4.2 innings and giving up two runs on three hits in a no decision. Entering today’s game, Laxer is 2-0 on the season with a 2.06 ERA in nine appearances, six of which are starts. The Madison native has been a consistent arm in the midweek for head coach Mike Bianco, but he’s also had command issues at times, issuing 18 walks and three hit batters to just 17 strikeouts in 35 innings.
Freshman right-hander Brady Bramlett will also likely see action in relief. Bramlett is 4-1 this season with a 3.27 ERA. Sophomore right-hander Hawtin Buchanan and freshman right-hander Jacob Waguespack continue to try to reach mid-season form after seeing limited action due to injuries.
The key for Ole Miss is going to be at the plate, as it has been all season. When the Rebels score three or more runs, they are 26-3; however, they have scored one or no runs in 11 games this season.
Offensively, Ole Miss holds the edge, hitting .272 as a team compared to a .263 clip for Arkansas State. Both the Rebels and Red Wolves are averaging 5.2 runs per game.
Ole Miss is led at the plate by junior catcher Stuart Turner, who is hitting a team-best .385. Turner leads the Rebels in hits (55), home runs (4), RBI (38) and on-base percentage (.450). The Rebels will also look to get production from junior shortstop Austin Anderson and sophomore center fielder Auston Bousfield, who are second and third on the team in hitting, respectively. Bousfield is 8-for-20 in the past five games.
At the plate for the Red Wolves, Ryan Emery and Ryan Roberts lead the way, hitting .321 and .320 respectively. Emery leads the team with 45 hits, while Claude Johnson, who’s hitting .295, is a close second with 44. Collin Massanelli and Logan Uxa will be the power providers, each with a team best three home runs.
In the two teams’ earlier meeting this season, Ole Miss was led by Anderson, who was 2-for-4 with three RBI and sophomore first baseman Sikes Orvis, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI. For Arkansas State, Roberts and Johnson each recorded a hit and RBI.
First pitch for tonight’s game at Arkansas State is set for 6:30 p.m.
Wahl named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week
Junior right-hander Bobby Wahl was named the Southeastern Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week on Monday by the league office following his complete-game shutout of Tennessee over the weekend.
The complete-game was the first of Wahl’s career as he set the table for the Rebels to pick up a series sweep of the Volunteers. It was the third shutout of the season for the junior, who combined to post shutout wins over then No. 12 TCU to open the season and No. 22 Alabama a week earlier.
In the outing against Tennessee, Wahl allowed only three hits with two walks and struck out eight batters to move to 8-0 on the season.
The shutout was the eighth Wahl has been a part of in his career, including two as a freshman closer and three as a sophomore starter on the weekend.
Ole Miss Sports Information contributed to this report.
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