May 29, 2012

Game Notes - NCAA Regional

Ole Miss (35-24) vs. TCU (36-19)
College Station, Texas • Blue Bell Park • NCAA Regional
June 1 • 12:35 PM

Radio: Full Ole Miss Network
Announcers: David Kellum & Keith Kessinger
Internet Video Broadcast: ESPN3.com
Announcers: Ducis Rodgers & Chris Burke
Internet Live Stats/Audio: www.OleMissSports.com

THIS WEEK FOR OLE MISS:
Ole Miss will open NCAA Tournament play for the 2012 season at the College Station regional hosted by Texas A&M University. The Rebels will play the first game of the regional against the second-seeded TCU Horned Frogs at 12:35 p.m. on Friday, June 1. Ole Miss will then face either the Dayton Flyers or the host Texas A&M Aggies in game two, depending on the outcome of the first day's action.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCH-UPS:
FRIDAY, 12:35 P.M.
TCU - Preston Morrison, Fr., RHP
OM - Bobby Wahl, So., RHP
NOTING WAHL: Sophomore right-hander Bobby Wahl takes the mound on Tuesday morning to open the NCAA Tournament, his 16th of the season. On the year, Wahl is 6-3 with a 2.26 ERA and has posted 90 strikeouts with 31 walks in his 87.2 innings of work. The sophomore is holding opponents to a .211 batting average against and has combined for three shutouts this season. He has picked up wins over #10 TCU, UNC-Wilmington, Houston, Auburn,  #1 Florida and Tennessee. He has twice been named the SEC Pitcher of the Week, been tabbed as the National Pitcher of the Week, has been selected to compete for the USA Baseball National Team and was named to the Golden Spikes Player of the Year watch list and National Pitcher of the Year watch list. He was named an All-SEC Second Team selection this week.

A LOOK AT TCU:
The Horned Frogs of TCU enter the NCAA Tournament with an overall record of 36-19 and claimed a share of the Mountain West Conference title. TCU hits at a .268 clip this season with 26 home runs and 262 RBI. Leading the Horned Frogs at the plate is Jason Coats with a .326 average to go along with a team-high 45 RBI. Josh Elander leads the power production with eight home runs this season and is 12-of-19 in steal attempts. The Horned Frog pitching staff holds a 3.17 ERA and have posted 404 strikeouts with 161 walks while opponents are hitting at a .242 clip this season. Friday starter Preston Morrison holds a 9-1 record on the year with a 1.73 ERA in a team-high 98.2 innings of work. He has struck out 64 while walking eight and allowing batters to hit at only a .208 clip this season.

OLE MISS VS. TCU:
Ole Miss and TCU have faced each other 10 times with the Rebels trailing in the all-time series 4-6. The two teams first met in 1994 at TCU wit the Rebels dropping both games of the series.

LAST TIME OUT VS. TCU:
Ole Miss and TCU met in the season opener for both teams with the Rebels and Horned Frogs splitting the rain-shortened series. Ole Miss claimed the first game 7-4 behind the arm of Bobby Wahl and a 2-for-5 performance from Alex Yarbrough that included a two-run home run as part of a three-RBI day. The Rebels dropped game two 5-3 after a rally by the Horned Frogs in the fifth inning. Mike Mayers struck out eight batters in four innings, allowing two runs on one hit in the outing as his only relief outing of the season.

BIANCO VS. TCU:
Ole Miss head coach is 2-4 against the Horned Frogs all-time as the head coach of the Rebels. Both wins have come on the road with a win at TCU in 2008 and a win at TCU in 2012. It will be the first meeting between the two teams at a neutral site.

OLE MISS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT:
Ole Miss has been successful in the NCAA Tournament over the years, posting a 42-35 record in the  post-season event. The Rebels have advanced to the NCAA Tournament 17 times and have advanced to the College World Series four times. Ole Miss has advanced to nine of the last 10 NCAA Tournaments and is one of only 17 teams to have done so nationally.

GAMES ON ESPN3.COM:
This weekend's games are broadcast on ESPN3.com as a part of the network's coverage of the NCAA Regionals. Check with your local cable provider or internet service provider to see if ESPN3 is available in your area.

LISTEN TO THE GAMES ONLINE:
Rebel fans who can't make it to the game have options for catching all the action with Rebel Baseballl. In addition to the RebelVision option for video and audio, fans can also download the Ole Miss App for their phone and receive live stats and streaming audio right in the palm of their hand.

ALL-SEC REBELS:
Ole Miss had three players honored with selection to All-SEC teams by the league's coaches this year when Alex Yarbrough (1st), Matt Snyder (2nd) and Bobby Wahl (2nd) were named to the team. Yarbrough was also named to the SEC All-Defensive team, while Snyder was honored with selection to the SEC Community Service Team.