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Ole Miss Baseball: No.21 Rebels Face Tough SEC Road Test

By Daniel Skipper

Omaha, NE - JUNE 27: A general view of a baseball on the field prior to game two of the College World Series Championship Series between the Oregon State Beavers and the Arkansas Razorbacks on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 27: A general view of a baseball on the field prior to game two of the College World Series Championship Series between the Oregon State Beavers and the Arkansas Razorbacks on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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Coach Mike Bianco and No.21 Ole Miss Baseball will be back in SEC road action as they travel to Fayetteville to face the No.8 Arkansas Razorbacks.

Coach Mike Bianco and No.21 Ole Miss baseball (18-8, 3-3) will be staying on the road and travelling to Fayetteville for their toughest test of the 2019 season. Bianco and the Rebels will be facing the No.8 Arkansas Razorbacks and need to build off their midweek road win over the Memphis Tigers. The Hogs on their home turf will be a tough foe.

So far in 2019 the Rebels have suffered on the hill which is not something Rebels fans are used to when it comes to Bianco ball. At the plate the Rebels have been fairly solid but as the middle of the season has come we have seen some slumps. Its baseball and when it comes to hitting against some of the nations best pitchers then it can be expected. Hitters go thru slumps.

It Will get Tougher

Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss Rebels /

Ole Miss Rebels

This weekend will mark Bianco and the Rebels will face their second SEC series on the road of the 2019 season and will be facing the No.8 Hogs and from there it really doesn’t get much better for the Rebels. A good series this weekend would go a long way to build some momentum as they head thru the rest of the season. However, it won’t be easy.

In order to get wins in Fayetteville coach Mike Bianco and the Rebels will have to be great on the mound and at the plate. So far in the 2019 season Bianco has been tinkering with the pitching staff to find the right rotation and the pitching has been anything but consistent and it has cost the Rebels wins.

Looking at the Rebels pitching rotation we can see the potential of Bianco’s three weekend starters. Junior right-hander Will Ethridge (4-1) has been solid with a 0.70 ERA going 25.1 innings with 22 Ks and 10 BB. Freshman left-hander Doug Nikhazy (2-2) who has recently found a post in the starting rotation has been a bright spot for the future of the staff. Nikhazy currently has a 2.88 ERA going 25.0 innings with 23 Ks and 9 BB. Freshman Gunnar Hoglund (1-0) is carrying a 4.09 ERA going 22.0 innings with 16 Ks and 5 BB. The Rebels will need strong starts from all three pitchers this weekend.

Plate Action Needed

Besides a big weekend on the hill there will have to be some hot bats at the plate as well in order for the Rebels to have a big series. So far in 2019 there are only 2 Rebels hitting over .300 with senior Ryan Olenek (1HR) hitting .420 and junior Thomas Dillard (9HR) hitting at a .337 clip. There are several other Rebels who are near the .300 mark. Sophomore Tyler Keenan (7HR) is hitting .299 while junior Cole Zabowski (4HR) is hitting .284. Junior Cooper Johnson (2HR) is hitting .273 while junior Grae Kessinger (1HR) is hitting .262.

Next. The 2019 Diamond Rebels. dark

Coach Mike Bianco and No.21 Ole Miss baseball will be back in action this weekend in Fayetteville to face the No.8 Arkansas Razorbacks. First pitch for game-one of the three game series is set for 8pm CT Friday night and the game can be seen on ESPNU. Good luck to coach Bianco and the Rebels. BEAT THE HOGS! Hotty Toddy!

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