A Historic Opening
The University of Missouri’s baseball team is slated to open the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Tuesday, meeting No. 17 Ole Miss in a matchup that will be broadcast live on the SEC Network. First pitch is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Central Time, giving fans a chance to tune in early for what promises to be a competitive contest.
Mizzou will hand the ball to its ace right‑hander Josh McDevitt, who is slated for his 15th start of the season. McDevitt enters the game nine strikeouts away from breaking the program’s single‑season top‑10 list, having already fanned 94 batters in 73.2 innings with a 4.03 ERA.
Ole Miss will counter with former Tiger lefty Wil Libbert, who brings a 2‑2 record and a 6.98 ERA over 40 innings this year. Libbert’s presence adds a narrative twist, as the former Mizzou pitcher looks to make an impact against his old team.
The Rebels arrive with strong national rankings, sitting No. 15 in the D1Baseball Top 25 and No. 15 in the RPI, while also ranking among the top 15 in home runs (97) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.7). Their lineup features power hitters Judd Uttermark and Tristan Bissetta, each with 20 homers.
The series between the two schools stands at 30 meetings, with Ole Miss holding a 19‑11 edge. This game will be the 30th all‑time meeting, underscoring the long‑standing rivalry that has developed since Mizzou joined the SEC in 2013.
Mizzou’s recent form includes a three‑game sweep of Vanderbilt that ended a 13‑game winning streak for the Commodores, and the Tigers have posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since May 2017. Junior shortstop Kam Durnin leads the team with a .316 average and nine doubles, while senior infielder Keegan Knutson earned a spot on the 2026 SEC Baseball Community Service Team.
Under first‑year pitching coach Drew Dickinson, the Tigers have climbed to 37th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (9.9) and have cultivated a new winning ritual — stacking bricks after each victory — a nod to the program’s growing culture of celebration.
Fans can follow the action on the audio stream via the The Varsity Network app powered by Learfield, ensuring that every pitch is heard across the state.
Key Players to Watch
Freshman infielder Blaize Ward has been a spark plug, earning SEC Co‑Freshman of the Week twice this season, while Jase Woita, a transfer from South Carolina, leads the lineup with a team‑best 12 home runs and 50 RBI. The depth chart also features contributions from Tex Little, Matt Michaels, and a host of emerging talents such as Cameron Benson, Pierre Seals, Isaiah Frost, Kaden Peer, and Jackson Beaman.