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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, March 27
Oxford, Miss.
6:30 PM
Ole Miss
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Mississippi State
No. 18 Baseball Set for Rivalry Battle With No. 6 Mississippi State This Weekend
3/26/2026 | Baseball
OXFORD, Miss. – No. 18 Ole Miss (19-7, 3-3 SEC) and No. 6 Mississippi State (21-4, 4-2 SEC) are set to clash this weekend in Oxford as ranked opponents for the first time since 2021. First pitch at Swayze Field on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. while Saturday is set for 1:30 p.m. and Sunday is set for 3 p.m.
LEADING OFF
Game 1: LHP Hunter Elliott (3-0, 3.48 ERA) vs. LHP Charlie Foster (0-0, 5.11 ERA)
Game 2: TBA vs. LHP Tomas Valincius (5-0, 1.04 ERA)
Game 3: TBA vs. RHP Duke Stone (4-0, 4.10 ERA)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Jake Hromada (PxP) and Keith Kessinger (analyst) on the call. Sunday's matchup will be broadcast on SEC Network with Richard Cross (PxP) and Todd Walker (analyst) on the call.
Fans can listen to all Ole Miss Baseball games, home and away, on the Ole Miss Radio Network with David Kellum (PxP) and Brad Henderson (analyst) on the call.
SCOUTING REPORT
Former Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor has made an effortless transition into SEC play by leading Mississippi State to a 21-4 record to start the season. O'Connor began his first season in Starkville after 22 seasons with the Cavaliers, where he is the all-time winningest coach in program history.
He's brought that winning mentality to Mississippi State who finds itself ranked as a consensus top 10 team and sitting as high as No. 4 in national polls. The Bulldogs are no stranger to success, accumulating a winning record in 10 of the past 11 seasons, which includes a pair of 50-win campaigns in 2019 and 2021, the latter season saw them winning the College World Series.
This season has been no different, as the Bulldogs are riding a five-game winning streak which includes a sweep of Vanderbilt and a 12-0 romping of No. 11 Southern Miss last time out. The Bulldogs have compiled a well-rounded squad that ranks top 10 nationally in 12 statistical categories, including batting average (third), strikeouts per nine innings (fifth), runs (sixth) and hits (seventh).
No individual Bulldog stands out nationally at the plate, rather the collective position players each are capable batters. Bryce Chance leads the way as the most effective hitter with a staggering .452 batting average. Ace Reese and Noah Sullivan provide the power with 13 home runs between them, with the former leading the team with 12 doubles. Reese and Reed Stallman are the team's main drivers of scoring with 34 and 29 RBI, respectively. On the bases, eight primary starters have recorded at least one stolen base as Chance leads the way with seven.
Mississippi State's weekend starters up until this weekend have been right-handers Ryan McPherson and Duke Stone, with lefty Tomas Valincius sandwiched between on Saturday. The starters have a combined 12-0 record on 94.0 pitches, giving up only 25 earned runs. Valincius leads the way on Saturdays with a 1.04 ERA and a team-high 47 Ks, the former ranking third in the SEC.
WORLD BASEBALL REBS
Ole Miss had two representatives in the recently completed World Baseball Classic, Dylan DeLucia and Josh Mallitz.
DeLucia pitched for Team Italy, making two appearances including a start against Great Britain. Over two outings for the Italians, DeLucia worked 7.2 innings with eight strikeouts and a 2.35 ERA. In the quarterfinals against Puerto Rico, DeLucia worked four scoreless innings and earned a hold for his efforts.
Mallitz made two appearances for Team Israel allowing just two baserunners over two innings of work.
MOVING ON UP
With six strikeouts last Friday against Kentucky, Hunter Elliott moved into fifth all-time in career strikeouts. He most recently passed former Rebels Doug Nikhazy and Scott Bittle
Elliott should be able to move into third place over his next couple of starts but would have to have a career year to catch MLB veterans Lance Lynn and Drew Pomeranz.
Ole Miss Career Strikeout List
1. Drew Pomeranz 344
2. Lance Lynn 332
3. Jeff Calhoun 282
4. Mark Holliman 281
5. Hunter Elliott 260
6. Doug Nikhazy 259
7. Scott Bittle 257
8. Brett Bukvich 245
FRESH START
Tristan Bissetta is ranked in the top 10 in multiple categories in the SEC in his first season in the conference. He is ranked second in home runs (14), second in total bases (85), third in hits (38), fourth in RBI (38), fourth in RBI per game (1.46), fourth in slugging percentage (.859), and ninth in batting average (.384).
Bissetta has four multi-homer games already under his belt, coming against Jackson State, Baylor, Austin Peay, and Kentucky. He had just one in his entire career before coming to Ole Miss.
On February 18 against Jackson State, Bissetta hit two home runs in the third inning, becoming the first Rebel to accomplish the feat in almost a decade. Nick Fortes was the last Rebel to hit two home runs in the same inning, doing so in 2017 against ULM.
He has already surpassed both his home run and RBI totals from 2025.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Judd Utermark now sits at 39 career home runs which is nine shy of the Ole Miss all-time record. He passed 2022 National Champion Kevin Graham in game two of a doubleheader against Evansville and now sits in sole possession of sixth place.
His next home run will put him in a tie for fifth but will also make him just the seventh Rebel to hit 40 home runs in their career.
Ole Miss Career Home Run List
1. Kyle Gordon 48
2. Tim Elko 46
3. Matt Smith & Matt Snyder 41
5. Brad Henderson & Jacob Gonzalez 40
6. Judd Utermark 39
7. Kevin Graham 38
8. Burney Hutchinson & Stephen Head 37
10. David Dellucci & Michael Rosamond 36
EARLY LEAD
Ole Miss is outscoring opponents 104-49 over the first four innings. The Rebels are 14-0 when scoring in the first inning and 11-2 when they are the team that scores first.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Brett Moseley and Tate Sirmans each launched a home run for their first collegiate hit Opening Weekend against Nevada. Moseley hit a pinch-hit, two-RBI home run in the eighth inning of game one and Sirmans hit a solo shot in the fourth inning of game two. It was also Sirmans' first career start.
Moseley and Sirmans join a decent sized list of Rebels who hit a home run for their first career hit. Will Furniss and Judd Utermark each hit a pinch-hit home run for their first hits in 2023 when they were freshmen. Austin Fawley also hit a home run for his first career hit as a redshirt freshman at Kentucky in 2024.
BIG GAME HUNTER
Hunter Elliott returns to the Ole Miss rotation as the most experienced pitcher on the staff. He turned in one of the best seasons in Rebel history last year, becoming just the fifth pitcher to record a 10-win, 100-strikeout season finishing with a 10-3 record and 102 punchouts. He also became just the fourth pitcher in program history to record 100+ strikeouts in two different seasons. His 2.94 ERA was the lowest by a Rebel starting pitcher since his freshman season when he finished with an ERA of 2.70.
Elliott is the only returning pitcher in the country to have earned 10+ wins and struck out 100+ hitters in 2025.
BRING THE BOOM
The Ole Miss offense set a new program record for home runs in a season in 2025, crushing 124 home runs. It was just the second time in program history that an Ole Miss team has cracked the 100-home run mark.
The Rebels finished fifth nationally in total home runs, ninth nationally in home runs per game (1.94), and 13th nationally in walks drawn (345). They were one of just four programs in the country to have two 20+ home run hitters and one of six programs to finish with 100+ home runs, 100+ doubles, and 100+ hit by pitches.
There are only 16 returning players who hit 20 or more home runs in 2025 and three of them will be in Ole Miss' Opening Day lineup: Judd Utermark, Austin Fawley, and Daniel Pacella.
BASH BROS
Judd Utermark and Austin Fawley both broke the 20-home run mark in 2025, becoming the first pair of Rebel teammates in program history to each hit 20+ home runs in a single season.
Utermark finished with 22 home runs, the second-most by a Rebel in a single season, just two shy of the program record of 24 set by Tim Elko in 2022.
The 2025 Rebels finished with three hitters with 15+ home runs for the first time in program history and six hitters with 10+ home runs, also for the first time in program history.
IMPROVEMENT ON THE MOUND
In the first season under pitching coach Joel Mangrum, the Ole Miss pitching staff finished sixth nationally in total strikeouts. They struck out 669 hitters, 127 more than their total from 2024, which was the largest increase in the country.
The staff also finished 12th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 10.8 strikeouts per game.
PRESEASON AWARDS
Hunter Elliott has been one of the most decorated players heading into the 2026 season. He was named to the 2026 Golden Spikes Award Watch List and earned Preseason All-America honors from the NCBWA, Perfect Game, D1Baseball, The Diamond Report, and Just Baseball Media. He was also named to the Preseason All-SEC Team that is voted on by the league's head coaches.
Judd Utermark was named a Preseason All-American by the NCBWA and Will Furniss was named to the Preseason All-SEC Team at first base. Austin Fawley was one of 10 catchers in the country to make the 2026 Buster Posey Preseason Watch List.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on X at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissBaseball, on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemissbsb and on TikTok at @olemissbsb. Also, follow head coach Mike Bianco on X at @CoachMikeBianco.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss dropped their midweek game against Memphis on Tuesday on the road, collecting just four hits in a 6-2 loss.
- The Rebels opened their home slate 16-0 before losing to Kentucky last Saturday. The 16-0 home start was the best in program history.
- Tristan Bissetta had two multi-home run games last week, hitting five home runs over four games.
- He hit his 12th and 13th home runs on Friday against Kentucky, becoming the fastest Rebel in program history to reach the 13-home run mark, doing it in just 23 games.
- Bissetta comes into the weekend ranked second in the SEC in home runs (14), second in total bases (85), third in hits (38), fourth in RBI (38), fourth in RBI per game (1.46), fourth in slugging percentage (.859)
- Judd Utermark is ranked fourth in the SEC in runs scored (32), sixth in runs per game (1.23), and ninth in home runs (10).
- Utermark and Bissetta have combined to hit 24 of Ole Miss' 46 (52.2%) home runs this season.
- Dom Decker is ranked third in the SEC and 11th in the NCAA in walks with 28. He is averaging 1.08 walks per game.
- Hunter Elliott is ranked 13th in the SEC in strikeouts with 44 punchouts on the season. His K/9 sits at 12.77 which is 10th in the SEC.
- Ole Miss has pitched two shutouts this season, one against Ohio State and one against Kentucky. Taylor Rabe has worked the back end of both of those shutouts, taking over for the starting pitcher and closing out the game.
- The Ole Miss pitching staff has struck out 298 batters, second-most in the SEC and fourth in the NCAA.
Game 1: LHP Hunter Elliott (3-0, 3.48 ERA) vs. LHP Charlie Foster (0-0, 5.11 ERA)
Game 2: TBA vs. LHP Tomas Valincius (5-0, 1.04 ERA)
Game 3: TBA vs. RHP Duke Stone (4-0, 4.10 ERA)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Jake Hromada (PxP) and Keith Kessinger (analyst) on the call. Sunday's matchup will be broadcast on SEC Network with Richard Cross (PxP) and Todd Walker (analyst) on the call.
Fans can listen to all Ole Miss Baseball games, home and away, on the Ole Miss Radio Network with David Kellum (PxP) and Brad Henderson (analyst) on the call.
SCOUTING REPORT
Former Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor has made an effortless transition into SEC play by leading Mississippi State to a 21-4 record to start the season. O'Connor began his first season in Starkville after 22 seasons with the Cavaliers, where he is the all-time winningest coach in program history.
He's brought that winning mentality to Mississippi State who finds itself ranked as a consensus top 10 team and sitting as high as No. 4 in national polls. The Bulldogs are no stranger to success, accumulating a winning record in 10 of the past 11 seasons, which includes a pair of 50-win campaigns in 2019 and 2021, the latter season saw them winning the College World Series.
This season has been no different, as the Bulldogs are riding a five-game winning streak which includes a sweep of Vanderbilt and a 12-0 romping of No. 11 Southern Miss last time out. The Bulldogs have compiled a well-rounded squad that ranks top 10 nationally in 12 statistical categories, including batting average (third), strikeouts per nine innings (fifth), runs (sixth) and hits (seventh).
No individual Bulldog stands out nationally at the plate, rather the collective position players each are capable batters. Bryce Chance leads the way as the most effective hitter with a staggering .452 batting average. Ace Reese and Noah Sullivan provide the power with 13 home runs between them, with the former leading the team with 12 doubles. Reese and Reed Stallman are the team's main drivers of scoring with 34 and 29 RBI, respectively. On the bases, eight primary starters have recorded at least one stolen base as Chance leads the way with seven.
Mississippi State's weekend starters up until this weekend have been right-handers Ryan McPherson and Duke Stone, with lefty Tomas Valincius sandwiched between on Saturday. The starters have a combined 12-0 record on 94.0 pitches, giving up only 25 earned runs. Valincius leads the way on Saturdays with a 1.04 ERA and a team-high 47 Ks, the former ranking third in the SEC.
WORLD BASEBALL REBS
Ole Miss had two representatives in the recently completed World Baseball Classic, Dylan DeLucia and Josh Mallitz.
DeLucia pitched for Team Italy, making two appearances including a start against Great Britain. Over two outings for the Italians, DeLucia worked 7.2 innings with eight strikeouts and a 2.35 ERA. In the quarterfinals against Puerto Rico, DeLucia worked four scoreless innings and earned a hold for his efforts.
Mallitz made two appearances for Team Israel allowing just two baserunners over two innings of work.
MOVING ON UP
With six strikeouts last Friday against Kentucky, Hunter Elliott moved into fifth all-time in career strikeouts. He most recently passed former Rebels Doug Nikhazy and Scott Bittle
Elliott should be able to move into third place over his next couple of starts but would have to have a career year to catch MLB veterans Lance Lynn and Drew Pomeranz.
Ole Miss Career Strikeout List
1. Drew Pomeranz 344
2. Lance Lynn 332
3. Jeff Calhoun 282
4. Mark Holliman 281
5. Hunter Elliott 260
6. Doug Nikhazy 259
7. Scott Bittle 257
8. Brett Bukvich 245
FRESH START
Tristan Bissetta is ranked in the top 10 in multiple categories in the SEC in his first season in the conference. He is ranked second in home runs (14), second in total bases (85), third in hits (38), fourth in RBI (38), fourth in RBI per game (1.46), fourth in slugging percentage (.859), and ninth in batting average (.384).
Bissetta has four multi-homer games already under his belt, coming against Jackson State, Baylor, Austin Peay, and Kentucky. He had just one in his entire career before coming to Ole Miss.
On February 18 against Jackson State, Bissetta hit two home runs in the third inning, becoming the first Rebel to accomplish the feat in almost a decade. Nick Fortes was the last Rebel to hit two home runs in the same inning, doing so in 2017 against ULM.
He has already surpassed both his home run and RBI totals from 2025.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Judd Utermark now sits at 39 career home runs which is nine shy of the Ole Miss all-time record. He passed 2022 National Champion Kevin Graham in game two of a doubleheader against Evansville and now sits in sole possession of sixth place.
His next home run will put him in a tie for fifth but will also make him just the seventh Rebel to hit 40 home runs in their career.
Ole Miss Career Home Run List
1. Kyle Gordon 48
2. Tim Elko 46
3. Matt Smith & Matt Snyder 41
5. Brad Henderson & Jacob Gonzalez 40
6. Judd Utermark 39
7. Kevin Graham 38
8. Burney Hutchinson & Stephen Head 37
10. David Dellucci & Michael Rosamond 36
EARLY LEAD
Ole Miss is outscoring opponents 104-49 over the first four innings. The Rebels are 14-0 when scoring in the first inning and 11-2 when they are the team that scores first.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
Brett Moseley and Tate Sirmans each launched a home run for their first collegiate hit Opening Weekend against Nevada. Moseley hit a pinch-hit, two-RBI home run in the eighth inning of game one and Sirmans hit a solo shot in the fourth inning of game two. It was also Sirmans' first career start.
Moseley and Sirmans join a decent sized list of Rebels who hit a home run for their first career hit. Will Furniss and Judd Utermark each hit a pinch-hit home run for their first hits in 2023 when they were freshmen. Austin Fawley also hit a home run for his first career hit as a redshirt freshman at Kentucky in 2024.
BIG GAME HUNTER
Hunter Elliott returns to the Ole Miss rotation as the most experienced pitcher on the staff. He turned in one of the best seasons in Rebel history last year, becoming just the fifth pitcher to record a 10-win, 100-strikeout season finishing with a 10-3 record and 102 punchouts. He also became just the fourth pitcher in program history to record 100+ strikeouts in two different seasons. His 2.94 ERA was the lowest by a Rebel starting pitcher since his freshman season when he finished with an ERA of 2.70.
Elliott is the only returning pitcher in the country to have earned 10+ wins and struck out 100+ hitters in 2025.
BRING THE BOOM
The Ole Miss offense set a new program record for home runs in a season in 2025, crushing 124 home runs. It was just the second time in program history that an Ole Miss team has cracked the 100-home run mark.
The Rebels finished fifth nationally in total home runs, ninth nationally in home runs per game (1.94), and 13th nationally in walks drawn (345). They were one of just four programs in the country to have two 20+ home run hitters and one of six programs to finish with 100+ home runs, 100+ doubles, and 100+ hit by pitches.
There are only 16 returning players who hit 20 or more home runs in 2025 and three of them will be in Ole Miss' Opening Day lineup: Judd Utermark, Austin Fawley, and Daniel Pacella.
BASH BROS
Judd Utermark and Austin Fawley both broke the 20-home run mark in 2025, becoming the first pair of Rebel teammates in program history to each hit 20+ home runs in a single season.
Utermark finished with 22 home runs, the second-most by a Rebel in a single season, just two shy of the program record of 24 set by Tim Elko in 2022.
The 2025 Rebels finished with three hitters with 15+ home runs for the first time in program history and six hitters with 10+ home runs, also for the first time in program history.
IMPROVEMENT ON THE MOUND
In the first season under pitching coach Joel Mangrum, the Ole Miss pitching staff finished sixth nationally in total strikeouts. They struck out 669 hitters, 127 more than their total from 2024, which was the largest increase in the country.
The staff also finished 12th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 10.8 strikeouts per game.
PRESEASON AWARDS
Hunter Elliott has been one of the most decorated players heading into the 2026 season. He was named to the 2026 Golden Spikes Award Watch List and earned Preseason All-America honors from the NCBWA, Perfect Game, D1Baseball, The Diamond Report, and Just Baseball Media. He was also named to the Preseason All-SEC Team that is voted on by the league's head coaches.
Judd Utermark was named a Preseason All-American by the NCBWA and Will Furniss was named to the Preseason All-SEC Team at first base. Austin Fawley was one of 10 catchers in the country to make the 2026 Buster Posey Preseason Watch List.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on X at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissBaseball, on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemissbsb and on TikTok at @olemissbsb. Also, follow head coach Mike Bianco on X at @CoachMikeBianco.
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/ BaseballHIGHLIGHTS: Baseball vs. Kentucky (3/21/26)
Saturday, March 21
PRESSER | Will Furniss - Kentucky Postgame (3/21/26)
Saturday, March 21
PRESSER | Collin Reuter - Kentucky Postgame (3/21/26)
Saturday, March 21
PRESSER | Walker Hooks - Kentucky Postgame (3/21/26)
Saturday, March 21