Around the Diamond: Streaking Ole Miss baseball again turns to Rabe for final non-con tune-up
Ole Miss baseball is off to its best start in five years and has one final non-conference tune-up before opening SEC play.
The No. 13-ranked Rebels (14-1) are at South Alabama (9-6) on Tuesday at 4 p.m. CT. Ole Miss is fresh off its third consecutive weekend series sweep.
Redshirt freshman right-hander Taylor Rabe is starting for the second time in as many weeks. Rabe went 2.0 innings in his career debut of an 8-7 walk-off win over Murray State last Wednesday. He allowed just two hits.
The 6-foot-5 Rabe (0-0, 0.00 ERA) was widely viewed as a key piece of the Rebels’ future before he spent nearly two years recovering from injuries, including a fractured septum and Tommy John last February. Rabe was the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year and chose Ole Miss over the in-state Gamecocks and Clemson.
South Alabama will counter with RHP Tyler Smith (1-0, 3.72 ERA).
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
Television/Online: ESPN+
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Brad Henderson
ON DECK: SOUTH ALABAMA
Ole Miss and South Alabama are playing for the 32nd time in history. Their last meeting was in February of 2009. The Jaguars came away with a 3-2 in in 10 innings.
The Rebels hold a slight edge in the all-time series, 17-14. The Jaguars won the final two games against LA Tech this weekend to claim a series win.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Few hitters in college baseball have been hotter than Ole Miss breakout slugger Ryan Moerman.
Moerman is one of three transfers anchoring the middle of the Rebel lineup. Moerman was brought in from Illinois, where he had a career .276 average. Isaac Humphrey is from Louisville and Mitch Sanford from New Orleans. The Rebels signed a Top 15 class nationally, according to On3.
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Moerman stands out for his torrid stretch the last few weeks. Moerman over a 10-game hitting streak has 20 hits in 42 at-bats (.476), including five home runs for 20 RBI. He’s scored 16 runs.
Moerman in four games last week hit .529 (9 for 17) and knocked in 10 RBI. He had two home runs, including a walk-off winner Sunday in the finale against Jacksonville State. Moerman finished with seven RBI in the 13-2 win.
“I’ve been feeling good,” Moerman said. “Hitting’s contagious, you know? There’s a lot of other guys who are hitting really well right now.”
Moerman is Top 40 in the NCAA in doubles, doubles per game, total bases, slugging percentage, RBI, RBI per game and home runs.
BY THE NUMBERS
Ole Miss was ranked in all five polls this week. D1Baseball placed the Rebels at No. 13, while Baseball America and the USA Today coaches had them No. 15. Their lowest slotting was No. 23 by Perfect Game and NCBWA.
The Ole Miss offense is fifth in the country in home runs per game (2.07) and ninth in total home runs (31). The Rebels’ collective 3.08 ERA is the 13th-lowest in the NCAA. They’re ninth in strikeouts per nine (12.1).
Ole Miss kicks off its SEC slate this weekend against No. 3 Arkansas.
