No. 15 Ole Miss Baseball Hosts Struggling Florida in SEC Showdown

OXFORD, Miss. – No. 15 Ole Miss Baseball will host the Florida Gators this weekend for a vital three-game SEC series. The action begins on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT at Swayze Field. Ole Miss enters the matchup with a 19-5 record, including a 4-2 mark in conference play, while Florida stands at 18-9, desperately seeking its first SEC victory.

The Rebels are riding a four-game winning streak, highlighted by a series sweep at Missouri. Head coach Mike Bianco praised his team’s recent offensive production, stating, “We’ve swung it well, especially on the weekends, really of late. It’s been evident throughout the lineup.” Ole Miss has scored a remarkable 40 runs over the past three games, showcasing their ability to generate offense.

In their last outing, the Rebels defeated Memphis 7-5, with Brayden Randle leading the charge with a 2-for-4 performance that included three RBIs. The game marked the continuation of Ole Miss’s momentum, as they look for their best SEC start since 2021. As of now, they have hit 51 home runs this season, tying them for fifth nationally, with veteran slugger Judd Utermark and Illinois transfer Ryan Moerman each contributing nine home runs.

Florida, under 18-year head coach Kevin O'Sullivan, comes off a disappointing 8-4 loss to No. 4 Florida State, extending their SEC losing streak to six games. The Gators have struggled significantly this season, especially with injuries impacting their pitching staff. Florida is led by a group of strong hitters, including C/DH Brody Donay and 1B/2B Brendan Lawson, both boasting OPS figures above 1.000.

Thursday’s game marks the 109th all-time meeting between the two SEC teams, with Florida leading the series 56-52. The Gators swept the previous encounter in March 2023, outscoring Ole Miss 28-19 over the three games.

The Rebel pitching lineup will feature left-hander Hunter Elliott in Game 1, upheld by a solid earned run average of 2.79. Elliott is set to face Florida’s Aidan King, who has a compelling ERA of 2.39 this season. Game 2 is slated for Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT, and the series concludes on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT.

Ole Miss fans have set impressive attendance records this season, averaging 8,581 spectators through the first 16 home games. This enthusiasm and support are contributing factors as the team looks to strengthen its standings in the SEC while vying for a spot in the upcoming postseason.