The Rebels (23-14, 7-8 SEC) are coming off a midweek win over an extremely mediocre SWAC team but there were some positives. 11 different players recorded hits and there were 13 total. Ole Miss hit a team they were supposed to hit and beat a team the way they were supposed to beat them. Now, they welcome in a Missouri (26-12, 7-8 SEC) team that pitches it extremely well on the back of a potential top 10 pick and several other weekend starters who are not too shabby.
The Tigers started out the year on a blistering pace after losing their opener, going 21-1 before losing to Arkansas in their SEC opener. Tanner Houck is their Friday night guy and projected to go in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft. The Tigers have somewhat come back down to Earth after their hot start, losing series to Arkansas, Florida and Kentucky and defeating lesser opponents Alabama and Georgia.
Despite their ups and downs, they are a solid club who hits it (.285 team average) and pitches it well as a team (3.23 team ERA). Sophomore outfielder Connor Brumfield leads the Tigers at the dish with a .345 average and 10 stolen bases to go along with it. Junior utility player Trey Harris will provide the power for Steve Bieser’s squad, smashing 11 home runs already this season, driving in 40 runs and slugging a ridiculous .603 on the year.
On the bump, the aforementioned Houck needs no introduction. He is a legitimate straight to AAA then the majors prospect who will challenge a shaky Ole Miss offense on Friday. On the back end, the Tigers hand the ball to T.J. Sikkema with loads of confidence and for good reason (6-0, 4 saves, 1.49 ERA). Cole Bartlett (4-0, 2.47 ERA) is another quality guy that Ole Miss will face who will sit comfortably in the upper 80’s and low 90’s. His change up is his out pitch, something that has given the Rebs fits this year. Lastly, the wild card for Mizzou: Bryce Montes De Oca. The 6’7, 261-pounder throws absolute jet fuel (95-100 MPH) and will attack and attack and attack. He’s battled injuries but is finally fit and throwing gas.
The key for Ole Miss this weekend is just going to be to string together those positive at bats like they did in the Alabama series and like they did on Friday night in Baton Rouge. The approaches are steadily improving at the plate and Mike Clement has done a fine job of moving some folks around the lineup and sticking with his veterans at the top. Tate Blackman and Colby Bortles are starting to see the ball extremely well and dudes like Nick Fortes and Tim Rowe are coming along. If the Rebs can steal one on Friday against Houck with some solid pitching of their own, this could be a huge stepping stone weekend for Mike Bianco’s club, who is now on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament according to D1Baseball.
The numbers
Complete Ole Miss stats | Complete Mizzou stats
How to watch
Friday
First pitch: 6:30 p.m. CT
TV: none
Online streaming: WatchESPN.com
Projected pitchers
Ole Miss: RHP James McArthur (2-2, 3.03 ERA)
MU: RHP Tanner Houck (3-5, 2.95 ERA)
Saturday
First pitch: 4 p.m. CT
TV: none
Online streaming: WatchESPN.com
Projected pitchers
Ole Miss: LHP David Parkinson (5-2, 2.68 ERA)
MU: LHP Michael Plassmeyer (6-1, 3.71 ERA)
Sunday
First pitch: 1:30 p.m. CT
TV: none
Online streaming: WatchESPN.com
Projected pitchers
Ole Miss: LHP Ryan Rolison (4-2, 2.19 ERA)
MU: RHP Bryce Montes De Oca (3-2, 3.06 ERA)