Yesterday's series opener in Gainesville set up as a fascinating contrast between Ole Miss’ new‑look rotation and Florida’s established ace, with sophomore right‑hander Taylor Rabe squaring off against junior righty Liam Peterson.
Coming off a 6-4 win on the first day, the Rebels will certainly be in the mood for another win to snag the series today.
Ole Miss hands the ball to Rabe for just his first SEC start of the season, a move that reflects how quickly he has earned Mike Bianco’s trust.
Rabe enters at 3–1 with a 2.61 ERA, a sharp 0.87 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts against only three walks in 20.2 innings, numbers that speak to elite command and poise.
He has mostly thrived as a multi‑inning weapon out of the bullpen, including a four‑inning, seven‑strikeout relief outing against Ohio State, so the key tonight will be how his stuff plays stretched out over the middle innings. Florida counters with Peterson, the Gators’ strikeout machine at the front of Kevin O’Sullivan’s weekend rotation.
Peterson comes in at 1–1 with a 3.67 ERA and 1.28 WHIP, but the eye‑popping number is 55 strikeouts in 34.1 innings while holding opponents to a .183 average, showing how overpowering he can be when he’s in the zone. The flip side is 22 walks, so Ole Miss’s best path is to force deep counts early and capitalize if Peterson struggles with control.
Ole Miss form and offensive concerns
The Rebels arrive in Gainesville trying to reset after being swept at home by Mississippi State, their first sweep since 2024.
That series reinforced a troubling trend: Ole Miss is striking out more than any team in the SEC, with punchouts piling up in league play and killing rallies before they start. In recent losses, including against Memphis and Mississippi State, Ole Miss repeatedly got runners on but went cold with men in scoring position, finishing 0‑for‑8 in one midweek loss and managing only scattered run production in the rivalry sweep.
That plate‑discipline issue looms large against a power arm like Peterson. If the Rebels chase up in the zone or expand on two strikes, they risk adding to their strikeout totals and letting Peterson work deep into the game.
Ole Miss needs competitive at‑bats from the top of the order, early contact to avoid two‑strike traps, and at least a couple of timely extra‑base hits to give Rabe some margin for error.
Florida's Firepower on Offense
Florida’s offense in 2026 revolves around a deep core of bats that can beat you with both power and patience. At the top, center fielder Kyle Jones sets the tone as a dynamic leadoff hitter, carrying over the form that saw him hit .351 with 23 steals as a freshman at Stetson and now providing on‑base skills and speed that constantly pressure opposing pitchers.
Shortstop Brendan Lawson has blossomed into a true run producer, opening the year with a team‑high nine home runs and 26 RBIs in the non‑conference slate while anchoring the middle infield.
Around them, second baseman Cade Kurland and impact transfer catcher Karson Bowen add veteran at‑bats; Bowen arrives from TCU after a .333/.425/.516 season and brings rare athleticism for a catcher, including stolen‑base and extra‑base power upside.
The biggest new thunder in the middle of the order, though, comes from first baseman Ethan Surowiec, the former Ole Miss Rebel “hit his way to Florida” after a monster summer in the Northwoods League and is now one of the Gators’ premier power threats. Surowiec is slashing .313/.425/.545 with 5 homeruns.
The Rebels have a chance to clinch the series tonight at 5:30.