A dramatic extra innings win for Ole Miss on Friday meant Saturday brought a very motivated Texas team to the diamond ending in an 11-2 rout setting up a Sunday rubber match.
The Rebels (16-4, 1-1 SEC) didn’t have anything working on Saturday going 0-fer with runners in scoring position while the pitching staff allowed 11 runs and struck out a season low two for the game. The Longhorns (17-1, 1-1 SEC) avenged its only loss of the season by scoring nine unanswered runs breaking a 2-2 tie early in the game.
Projected pitchers
- Ole Miss: LHP Wil Libbert (2-1, 4.58 ERA)
- Texas: LHP Dylan Volantis (2-0, 1.54 ERA)
The Longhorns are sending its tall lefty Dylan Volantis to the mound to start on Sunday. He has been nearly untouchable this season in his four starts with only USC-Upstate giving him any trouble. His pitch counts have been anywhere from 78-91, so its likely he will be going 4+ innings at least even if there’s some success by Ole Miss.
Ole Miss sophomore Wil Libbert has been a quality Sunday starter thus far with three of his four starts going five innings and less than three earned runs given up. Libbert will have his hands full with this Texas line-up that has scored 19 runs so far this series, so it will likely end up in an all hands on deck situation for the Rebels.
Tristan Bissetta is having a hell of a series at the plate going five for ten on Friday and Saturday combined. Texas pitching has allowed some free bases in both games, but it has been mixed results on the lineup pushing runs across the plate.
With a midweek loss to Southern Miss, the Rebels are in danger of having a 1-3 week just one week removed from a 5-0 week, which is what happens come SEC play. A win on Sunday would be enormous for resume building for Ole Miss, and a loss doesn’t smash any hopes for the postseason at this point as there is still a ton of baseball to be played.
First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT and will be streamed on the ESPN app or WatchESPN.
