Around the Diamond: Utermark already has more HRs than previous two seasons combined

No. 17 Ole Miss baseball earlier this week walked off previously undefeated Murray State for its 10th straight win. 

But it wasn’t pretty. 

The Rebels weren’t quite themselves offensively and needed more home run heroics from Judd Utermark. Brayden Jones, their ‘best bullet’ in the bullpen, according to head coach Mike Bianco, was tagged for three runs on four hits.

Utermark’s now gone yard in four straight games. He hit two solo home runs against the Racers, the first multi-homer game of his career. Utermark hosts a podcast exclusive to the Ole Miss Spirit. He’s up to seven round-trippers, surpassing his combined total of his previous two, injury-marred seasons. 

“Happy and proud we were able to hang in there and put an inning together in the ninth,” Bianco, in his 25th season, said after the win over the Racers. “Judd hits the home run in the eighth to get us close and then we were able to put an inning together. Big (game-tying) double by (Will) Furniss. 

“But we didn’t play well. Early on, offensively, or really the whole game until the ninth inning, we couldn’t put any at-bats together. Too many quick outs. Credit them; they didn’t walk people or give us anything as far as errors and stuff. But our at-bats weren’t real good.

“Disappointed in the way we played, but proud we came back and won a game. Probably one we shouldn’t have. That’s good. You’ve got to do that if you’re going to be a good club, but we have to play better.”

The Rebels (11-1) next host Jacksonville State.

The Gamecocks are in Oxford for three games and Ole Miss’ final non-conference series. First pitch on Friday is 6:30 p.m. CT. Ace left-hander Hunter Elliott (3-0, 0.00 ERA) faces off against LHP Jackson Phipps (1-0, 0.63 ERA).

HOW TO WATCH

Television/Online: SEC Network+
Play-by-Play: Jake Hromada
Color: Matt McLaughlin

HOW TO LISTEN

Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Eli Savoie (Friday), Gary Darby (Saturday), David Kellum (Sunday)
Color: Brad Henderson

SERIES HISTORY

The Gamecocks roll into Oxford 10-3 on the year. Most recently they dropped their midweek matchup against No. 23 Alabama, 11-1.

Ole Miss is 6-1 all-time against Jacksonville State. The teams last met two years ago, the first-ever Gamecock win, 10-6. 

Steve Bieser is in his second season as Jacksonville State head coach. The Gamecocks in 2024 claimed their first series win over a Big 10 opponent with a pair of wins over Iowa in the non-con. 

Bieser previously served as head coach at Missouri (seven seasons) and Southeast Missouri State (four seasons).

PITCHING MATCHUPS

Ole Miss’ weekend rotation remains unchanged nearly a month into the 2025 season. 

Elliott will be followed by veteran right-handers Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols. Maddox (2-1, 4.05 ERA) draws RHP Karson Bonaparte (1-1, 2.19 ERA). Nichols (1-0, 5.73 ERA) gets LHP Steven Cash (1-0, 4.15 ERA).

The trio is sporting a combined 2.90 ERA through three-plus weeks and has allowed all of 13 total runs. They’ve struck out 53 over 40.1 innings. Elliott and Nichols each have a 10-strikeout outing, tying or setting new career-highs.

AROUND THE DIAMOND

Utermark is in a three-way tie for second in the SEC in home runs. Alabama’s Justin LeBron is the league leader (9). … Ole Miss is outscoring opponents, 18-0, in the first inning and 31-1 after two. The Rebels are 11-0 this season when they score first. … True freshman slugger Hayden Federico leads Ole Miss in on-base percentage (.545). … True freshman LHP Walker Hooks has allowed just four baserunners in his five appearances and 7.0 total innings.

Illinois transfer outfielder Ryan Moerman has hit .500 over his last five games. 

Included in the torrid stretch is a pair of home runs, five doubles and 10 runs scored. Moerman had three hits against Murray State. … Elliott is one of only four pitchers in the country to not allow a run while working 16 or more innings. … Ole Miss had three ranked wins in February, the most in the opening month in three years. … The Rebels are seventh nationally in strikeouts per nine (12.4), 12th in total strikeouts (146) and 18th in ERA (2.98). … Ole Miss offensively is 15th in home runs (22), 16th in homers per game (1.83) and 21st in walks drawn (79).