Feb. 22, 2012

Game Notes vs. UNC-Wilmington

#20 Ole Miss (2-1) vs. UNC-Wilmington (2-2)
Oxford, Miss. • O-U Stadium/Swayze Field
Feb. 24-26 • 3:00 PM/3:00 PM/Noon

Radio: Full Ole Miss Baseball Network (Sunday Only); Local in Oxford Only (Friday, Saturday)
Announcers: David Kellum & Keith Kessinger
Television: None
Announcers: None
Internet Stats: Click Here
RebelVision Video/Audio:Click Here

THIS WEEK FOR OLE MISS:
Ole Miss continues a 12-game home stand this weekened, plying host to UNC-Wilmington for a three-game series that begins on Friday at 3:00 p.m. with Saturday’s game set for a 3:00 p.m. start and Sunday’s game set for a noon first pitch.

NEXT WEEK FOR THE REBELS:
Ole Miss will continue to play at home as part of a 12-game home stand at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field. The Rebels will host Memphis on Tuesday at 3 p.m. in a mid-week contest before continuing to play at home with a three-game set against Miami (Ohio). The games against the Redhawks will be set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 12:30 p.m. on Saturday (to accomodate basketball) and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

GAMES ON REBELVISION:
Fans of Ole Miss baseball who can’t make it to Swayze Field can catch all the action live on the subscription based RebelVision or listen to the games online. Both features can be found at www.OleMissSports.com on any game not carried live on television as a part of the Southeastern Conference’s 2012 television package.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCH-UPS:
FRIDAY, 3:00 P.M.
UNC-W - Batts, So., LHP
OM - Bobby Wahl, So., RHP
NOTING WAHL: Sophomore right-hander Bobby Wahl makes his second start of the season on Friday night after picking up the win in his Friday night debut at No. 10 TCU this past weekend. Wahl worked a career-long 5.0 innings in the outing, striking out two and walking two while allowing two runs on five hits. It was the second start of his career as Wahl worked mainly as a reliever in his freshman campaign. His only other start came against Arkansas State (2/23) in 2011.

SATURDAY, 3:00 P.M.
UNC-W - DeLoach, Jr., LHP
OM - R.J. Hively, Sr., RHP
NOTING HIVELY: Senior right-hander R.J. Hively will make his second start of the season, and third of his career, when he takes the mound on Saturday against UNC-Wilmington. Hively drew the start in game two at No. 10 TCU this past weekend and took no decision after working 4.0 innings against the Horned Frogs. In that time, he allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Hively made one start in his junior campaign, starting against Southeast Missouri State (5/17) and worked 3.0 innings in the start.

SUNDAY, NOON
UNC-W - Ramsey, Fr., RHP
OM - Mike Mayers, So., RHP
NOTING MAYERS: Sophomore right-hander Mike Mayers will make his first start of the season - and second of his career - against UNC-Wilmington on Sunday. Mayers appeared in relief against No. 10 TCU in the opening weekend after the series was shortened due to rain. In that outing, Mayers worked 4.0 innings, striking out eight batters while allowing two runs on one hit with two walks. Mayers made one start in his freshman campaign, drawing the start against Austin Peay (3/2) with a career-long 5.0 innings of work.

A LOOK AT UNC-WILMINGTON:
UNC-Wilmington opened the first weekend of the season with a 2-1 record after facing the Ohio Bobcats in a three-game series. Wilmington was led at the plate by Andrew Cain, who hit .571 with two runs scored. Tyler Molinaro hit .357 with a home run and a team-leading four RBI. The Seahawks played one midweek contest earliy this week, falling to NC State by a score of 10-0.

OLE MISS VS. UNC-WILMINGTON:
Ole Miss and UNC-Wilmington have never met on the baseball diamond.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME:
The home field has been kind to the Rebels during Bianco’s tenure as Ole Miss has posted a 284-108-1 record within the friendly confines of O-U Stadium/Swayze Field for a (.724 winning percentage) at home.

OLE MISS VS. NON-CONFERENCE FOES UNDER BIANCO:
Ole Miss has posted an impressive non-conference record over the course of the past nine seasons under head coach Mike Bianco. Since Bianco’s arrival in Oxford in 2001, the Rebels have posted a 229-84-1 (.731 win percentage) mark in non-conference foes. Just a year ago, the Rebels were 17-8 in non-conference games, posting a .654 win percentage.

HIT STREAKS ON THE LINE:
Five Rebels hold hit streaks of more than one game heading into the weekend series against UNC-Wilmington. Junior Alex Yarbrough holds an active hit streak of three games for the longest on the team. Zach Kirksey, Tanner Mathis, Blake Newalu and Preston Overbey have all hit in two straight games.

THEY KEEP REACHING BASE:
Senior Matt Snyder saw his 10-game hit streak snapped on Tuesday, but still reached base with a walk to extend his active streak of reaching base to 14 consecutive games dating back to last season. Alex Yarbrough holds the longest streak of consecutive games reaching base safely with 15 games dating back to the 2012 season.