The Ole Miss Rebels had a great start to SEC play with a series victory over South Carolina, but the last two weeks have been disastrous.
Their current record is at 18-12 after they have won two of their previous six games. The fact that the team will be facing the top-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks this weekend makes Tuesday’s setback to the Memphis Tigers all the more painful.
No Big Hit
The Rebs were up 1-0 early thanks to a double by Ethan Lege and a leadoff single by Ethan Groff, but they were unable to put the Tigers to sleep. It felt like the offense had turned the corner after a disappointing weekend. In the top of the fourth, Ole Miss had an opportunity to take the lead with two outs and the bases loaded, but Memphis gladly exchanged one run for two outs following a ground ball by Reagan Burford.
This continues to be a habit for the Rebels that has been hard to curb. If you can’t produce at the plate with runners in scoring position, you will not win games in the SEC or against midweek competition.
Defensive Blunder Turns The Tide…Again
The Tigers pulled off one of the more shocking plays you will see in the 2024 season, scoring two runs on a squeeze play. It seemed as if nobody was paying attention to the runner on second base, and Memphis was aggressive. Credit to them, it worked.
Someone has to be talking while the play is happening. A squeeze is a high-pressure play on an infield, especially one struggling like the Rebels’. Memphis also took advantage of freshman Trenton Lyons getting his first collegiate time behind the dish.
The play turned the momentum squarely in the Tigers’ favor, the Rebs had no answers.
Judd Uttermark
On the bright side for Ole Miss, Judd Utermark looked to have his breakout game as he got his first start in a while at first base. Utermark went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, and expect him to get a handful of opportunities this weekend in Fayetteville. Maybe he can give the lineup a little more thump with plus speed.
The Rebels begin week four of SEC play in one of the most hostile environments in college baseball this weekend, Baum-Walker Stadium. The Rebels will also face one of the more dominant arms in college baseball in Hagen Smith.
Smith will be a huge challenge as his three-pitch mix of fastball, slider, and changeup has him projected as an early first-round pick in the Major League Baseball Draft this summer. First pitch on Thursday is set for 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SEC Network.
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