Thursday, April 28, 2011

Rebels Hit Road for Contest Against Mighty Gators


GAINESVILLE- The Ole Miss Rebel baseball team (36-20,16-14) travels to Florida this weekend to face the SEC East leading Gators (40-13, 22-8). The game is set for 6 p.m. central start at the noisy McKethan Stadium. The Rebels game Wednesday against Arkansas Pine-Bluff was canceled due to the intense tornado storms that swarmed the southeast. The game will not be made up, as their are no available dates that the game could be played.

However, the Rebels are still third in the SEC West despite coming off a series loss last weekend at Auburn with the Tigers taking it 2-1. The Rebels trip this weekend will not be an easy one though. The fourth ranked Gators are led by quick swinging Josh Adams with a batting average of .369 with 52 hits on the season. Florida also has slugger Preston Tucker who has pounded out 9 home runs to lead the team.

The Rebels will start their ace left handed pitcher Matt Crouse, who boasts a 6-2 record with a team-leading 2.81. Crouse did not fair well at Aubrun as he gave up three runs late in the game last Friday against Auburn. Rebel Coach Mike Bianco stated Thursday after practice, "As long as Matt can throw his best stuff, there is no doubt in my mind we can run with the Gators tomorrow."

This is a pivotal series for the Rebels as they face the number one ranked South Carolina Gamecocks next weekend in Oxford. A series win this weekend, though an incredible feat would help boost the Rebels post season hopes from dwindling to promising. The Rebels also rank third in fan attendance at home games in the country this season, and this is always an important factor in tournament selection.

The Rebels are going to need the bats hitting on all cylinders this weekend as well as they have been in recent series. The Rebels as a team are hitting around .270 with Sophomore Tanner Mathis leading the way at .380. Matt Smith and Alex Yarbrough lead the team with 4 homeruns a piece, and the Rebels will need more power than this to win the series this weekend.

Many Rebel fans are not able to make the journey to Gainesville this weekend but the game, but many will listen on to Rebel Radio 93.7 with David Kellum. Freshman student, Andrew Glaze of Jackson stated Thursday, "I have enjoyed going to all the home games this season, but it is going to take tough wins on the road like these to be able to enjoy the incredible playoff atmosphere I have witnessed at Swayze Field before."

Sources:
http://www.gatorzone.com/baseball/
http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-basebl/ole-m-basebl-body.html

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