One of the strengths of Ole Miss Baseball this season is the pitching staff, which has improved since last season. In 2025, the team’s earned run average (ERA) was 4.65; through 38 games in 2026, the Rebels’ ERA is 3.67.
In the series against No. 21 Florida on April 2-4, the pitching staff only gave up eight runs. During one span, the offense went scoreless across 20 innings, but the pitching helped the Rebels win the series.
Even in the Rebels’ 2-0 loss in the second game of the series, the Gators only scored in the third inning and tallied six total hits.
In game three, starter Cade Townsend pitched six innings and only gave up one run on four hits. Reliever JP Robertson also surrendered a run, but Walker Hooks shut the door the rest of the way. The Rebel offense finally woke up from its slump, and Ole Miss won, 5-2.
The pitching remained strong throughout the LSU series. Excluding a seven-run explosion by the Tigers in the seventh inning of game three, the Rebels were hot on the mound.
According to DI Baseball, Ole Miss is No. 2 in the SEC in strikeouts with 432 and No. 4 in ERA with a 3.67.
Although head coach Mike Bianco added a few pitchers this offseason via the transfer portal, the major improvement within the staff is due to the development of the returning pitchers.
Hooks, Hudson Calhoun and Taylor Rabe have all taken steps forward. Hooks and Calhoun have both lowered their respective ERAs by approximately two runs each. Rabe’s ERA has lowered from 4.41 to 3.16.
Townsend has taken perhaps the biggest leap of all. He went from a midweek starter and weekend reliever last season to the game two starter this year. His ERA is 2.02 through 35.2 innings pitched.
Bianco spoke about the depth of the pitching staff on media day on Feb. 10 after he announced that Hunter Elliott, Townsend and Wil Libbert would make up the starting rotation.
“This is as much depth as we’ve had in the pitching staff in quite some time. When I say that, (it’s) not just numbers, but talented guys that we have to figure out some roles (for),” Bianco said.
Pitching coach Joel Mangrum, who is in his second year with the program, is likely a major reason for the staff’s improvement. Ole Miss hired him after the team finished the 2024 season with an ERA of 5.88. Mangrum has turned the staff into one of the team’s strongest assets.
Specifically, Mangrum has worked with the staff on adding secondary pitches, and the payoff is obvious this season. Townsend added a sweeper and a two-seam fastball to his arsenal.
“I added two more pitches, not in the fall, actually in the spring, maybe a month or two ago,” Townsend said on Feb. 10. “I think everyone has deep pitches, basically (a) deep repertoire, and I think we’re gonna be really good.”
Though adding pitches can be difficult, Townsend said that he had no trouble doing so.
“I’m lucky enough (to) where I pick up a ball and kind of grab it and throw it,” Townsend said. “I mean, there’s not really a process, so I’m pretty lucky and blessed to have the innate ability to feel the ball. There’s usually a huge process, but I got lucky and just skip that.”
Besides providing instruction, Mangrum has also formed solid relationships with his pitchers.
“Joel (Mangrum)’s like a second dad. He does everything for me — making sure I’m good, making sure the team’s good,” Townsend said. “He cares more about the human than the player, and I think that’s the best part.”
