Mississippi pitcher Chris Ellis (10) releases a pitch during an NCAA college baseball game against the Missouri in Oxford, Miss., Friday, March 21, 2014. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
The No. 9 Ole Miss baseball team will look to get the sour taste out of their mouths after losing to in-state opponent Southern Miss this past Tuesday when they hit the road to resume conference play with a three-game series against Alabama this weekend.
The Rebels (21-5, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) swept Missouri in their last conference matchup, while the Crimson Tide (16-8, 3-3 SEC) most recently defeated Troy after dropping two of three last weekend to Arkansas.
Ole Miss will send junior right-hander Chris Ellis to the mound Friday night to get the series started. Ellis has been a stud for the Rebels so far this season, as he has posted a 4-0 record in six starts and a 0.67 ERA. He leads the team with 40.1 innings pitched and has only given up three earned runs.
Alabama will counter with junior right-hander Spencer Turnbull. Turnbull is 2-1 this season in six starts and holds a 0.28 ERA through 32 innings pitched. Amongst starters for the Crimson Tide, Turnbull has allowed a team-best 16 hits.
Sophomore lefty Christian Trent will get the nod for the Rebels on the mound Saturday. Trent is 3-0 in his six starts this season with a 3.16 ERA. He has recorded a team high 35 strikeouts, and he struck out five in his last outing against Missouri.
The Crimson Tide will most likely send junior left-hander Justin Kamplain to the hill Saturday to face Trent. Kamplain is 2-2 on the year through six starts with a 3.21 ERA. He currently leads Alabama with 33.2 innings pitched and is tied for a team high 33 strikeouts.
Junior right-hander Sam Smith will close things out for Ole Miss on the mound Sunday. Smith has turned in a solid year thus far going 3-1 in six starts. Smith holds a 2.04 ERA and has struck out 19 through 35.1 innings pitched.
Alabama will likely finish things up with junior left-hander Jon Keller. Keller has made three starts on six appearances on the mound for the Crimson Tide, and he is currently 4-1 with a 1.64 ERA.
At the plate for Ole Miss, junior Auston Bousfield will continue to set the pace. Bousfield leads the team with 39 hits and is currently batting .364. He is third on the team with three home runs and second with 18 RBI. Two other Rebels who have made a major offensive impact lately are senior Will Allen and junior Sikes Orvis. Orvis leads the team with six home runs and has also added 14 RBI of his own, while Allen is second on the team with four home runs and has a team-high 33 RBI.
Senior Austen Smith will be the bat to watch out for in the Alabama lineup. He leads the team with a .377 batting average, 21 RBI, and is tied for the team high with three home runs. Another player the Rebels will have to look out for is junior Wade Wass. He leads the team with nine doubles and is second with 15 RBI.
First pitch for Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Tuscaloosa.
