Ole Miss Baseball reliever Taylor Rabe will take the mound as the starter for the first game of the Rebels’ series against Florida this upcoming weekend, the team announced on April 1. Ace Hunter Elliott will start on Friday, and Cade Townsend will get the nod on Saturday.
Rabe will replace Hudson Calhoun, who took over for Wil Libbert this past weekend against Mississippi State.
Libbert was declared the game three starter in the preseason; the sophomore had a strong fall season and showed promise in non-conference play, but has struggled this season with a 6.83 ERA. In his three appearances against conference opponents, Libbert has allowed 12 earned runs and 19 hits in nine and one-thirds innings.
Rabe, on the other hand, was slated in this past week’s D1 Baseball relief pitcher rankings at No. 5. He has been a strong bullpen arm this season with a 2.61 ERA.
Rabe helped keep Ole Miss alive in its only semi-competitive matchup against Mississippi State, pitching two and two-thirds innings and allowing two runs against the powerhouse offense. He was even more dominant in his previous appearance, striking out five in two and two-thirds shutout innings against Kentucky.
