The Ole Miss baseball team is set to host Murray State in a much‑anticipated rematch, a contest that could extend the Rebels’ recent surge.
Key storylines
Ole Miss has won 10 of its last 12 games, highlighted by Co‑SEC Player of the Week Tristan Bissetta and Co‑SEC Pitcher of the Week Cade Townsend, whose performances have helped the staff record 463 strikeouts, the second‑most in the SEC.
The Rebels’ offense has been equally potent, batting .283 in April while launching 14 home runs and 18 doubles, with several players posting career‑high numbers.
Murray State, coached by Dan Skirka, arrives with a 24‑16 record and a strong lineup anchored by Luke Mistone, who leads the MVC in batting average (.357) and RBI (38).
The game will be streamed on SEC Network+ and carried on the Ole Miss Radio Network, giving fans multiple ways to follow the action.
Among the standout performances, Hayden Federico is hitting .500 in April with 10 RBI and an OPS of 1.247, while Judd Utermark sits at .378 with three homers, 16 runs scored and an OPS of 1.051.
Tristan Bissetta’s .375 average includes five homers, 12 RBI, 15 runs, four steals and a 1.360 OPS, and Walker Hooks has posted a 1.37 ERA over his last nine appearances.
Hunter Elliott is on the cusp of becoming the third pitcher in Ole Miss history to reach 300 strikeouts, and Judd Utermark is four homers shy of the program’s all‑time record.
The Rebels’ offense set a new program record for home runs in a season with 124, and the duo of Utermark and Austin Fawley became the first pair of teammates to each eclipse 20 homers in a single year.
Under pitching coach Joel Mangrum, the staff finished sixth nationally in total strikeouts, underscoring the impact of the new coaching direction.