Jan. 22, 2013

OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss baseball team was ranked as the No. 19 team in the nation heading into the 2013 campaign when Perfect Game released its preseason rankings on Tuesday.

The preseason ranking marks the 10th time the Rebels have been ranked in the preseason in the Mike Bianco era and the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. Collegiate Baseball newspaper also had Ole Miss ranked in the top 25 when the publication released its preseason rankings back in December.

Junior right-hander Bobby Wahl also pulled in individual rankings from both baseball organizations when they released their preseason All-America teams. Collegiate Baseball tabbed Wahl as a preseason All-American in December, while Perfect Game released its preseason All-America team on Monday.

The Rebels are coming off a season in which the squad posted a 37-26 record and advanced to the championship game of an NCAA Regional for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. It also marks the 10th NCAA Tournament appearance for Ole Miss in the Mike Bianco era and 17th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time.

Ole Miss posted several big wins on the season and claimed seven weekend series, including three series sweeps. The Rebels swept UNC-Wilmington, Houston and Tennessee while also picking up series wins over Miami (Ohio), No. 1 Florida, No. 15 Arkansas and posted series splits on the road at No. 10 TCU and No. 22 Louisville.

The Rebels open the 2013 season on February 15 with the first game of a three-game series against No. 15 TCU at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.