The Ole Miss Baseball team took a tough series loss this past weekend, March 13-15 at now-No. 2 Texas, after losing 2-1 against now-No. 12 Southern Miss on Tuesday, March 10. The Rebels rebounded against Austin Peay at home with a 9-5 win on Tuesday, March 17, but after going 1-3 in ranked games this week, there is cause for concern.
RISP slump
In three games against Texas and one game against Southern Miss, the Rebels were 7-of-65 with runners on and 7-of-40 with runners in scoring position. Of the 27 Ole Miss hits, 14 came from Tristan Bissetta and Judd Utermark.
The Rebels’ offense struggled to get the job done this past week. They scored nine runs against Austin Peay, but some of these came off a bases-loaded walk, a hit by pitch and a fielder’s choice. They only managed five hits, two of which were 2-run homers from Bissetta.
Additionally, they struck out 51 times and drew just eight walks. Against the Governors, they struck out seven times and drew eight walks. In the Rebels first series of the season against Nevada, they drew 22 walks; however, against stronger opponents, the team has displayed poor plate discipline.
The pitching was lackluster, but the staff was worn thin
Ole Miss pitching gave up 27 runs against Texas. However, since the bullpen was heavily taxed after an extra-innings game on Friday, and Cade Townsend had to be replaced in the second inning of the game on Saturday, fans should not be too quick to judge the staff.
Starter Hunter Elliott pitched five innings on Friday and looked sharp after striking out the side in the first two frames. The first time through the order, Elliott was effective at getting first pitch strikes. His only blemish early in the game was a hit by pitch on a breaking ball that did not break enough.
However, as soon as the lineup turned over for the first time, Elliott struggled. Two of his three walks came in the third inning and paved the way for a 3-run homer by Longhorn second baseman Ethan Mendoza which tied the game. Elliott gave up the go-ahead homer in the next inning on an 0-2 count.
Elliott’s fastball was effective, but his 92 pitches in five innings was not efficient. Texas batters extended the counts, and Elliott struggled to put batters away.
Reliever Hudson Calhoun cruised until the eighth inning when he walked two batters, leading to the Longhorns’ second 3-run homer of the game.
Starter Wil Libbert struggled on Sunday in his three innings pitched. However, Walker Hooks (2 ⅔ innings and two earned runs) and Landon Koenig (2 ⅓ innings with no runs) both had solid outings in relief.
In their midweek game against Southern Miss, Rebel pitching gave up just two runs on six hits. They walked three batters but had a measly five strikeouts.
Taylor Rabe started that game and pitched 2 ⅔ innings before Marko Sipila came in for a scoreless outing. Owen Kelly surrendered the game-tying home run on a 2-0 count. In the bottom of the ninth, JP Robertson allowed a runner to reach. Koenig then came in for relief and allowed a walk-off single.
Overall, the Rebels pitched well, but they were pushed to the max against the Longhorns, and the offense gave them no support against the Golden Eagles.
Not just a bad start for Fawley?
Through 17 games to start 2026, catcher Austin Fawley is batting .167 and has an on-base percentage of .324. He also has six errors just a year after he went errorless in 2025.
There is still a lot of baseball to play, but Fawley is becoming a replaceable player in the lineup. Collin Reuter, who is batting .329 with a .427 OBP, could see time behind the plate; however, since he would be more occupied with catcher responsibilities, his batting production might dip.
