OXFORD, MS- The Ole Miss Rebel Baseball Team (5-0, 0-0 SEC) travels to Texas this weekend to take on the University of Houston Cougars (4-0) in their first road series of the year.
Week one of regular season play gave the Rebels their first series sweep of the year against Dayton Ohio’s Wright State Raiders, as well as mid-week victories over the University of Memphis Tigers and the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
After losing Friday night starter Drew Pomeranz to the MLB draft as the no. 5 overall pick, as well as Saturday starter Aaron Barrett, there were some worries as to the strength of the Ole Miss bullpen, which is usually the team’s cornerstone. The Rebel pitching staff has allowed an average of 4.0 runs-per-game and opponents’ batting average of .294 over their first five games of the season, but has had plenty of offense to back it up: averaging 6.8 runs-per-game with four homeruns and a team batting average of .341.
Currently, Matt Snyder leads the team in batting average and Miles Hamblin, Preston Overbey, Matt Smith and Zach Kirksey are all tied for the lead in homeruns with one a piece.
The return of Smith and Snyder for their senior and junior years, respectively, was a pleasant surprise for the Rebel faithful after a 2010 campaign that left them both with batting averages of .348 and .347, respectively, and 12 homeruns each.
The NCAA’s new policy on so-called “ping-less” bats should have a positive effect on the Rebels’ season. The new bat regulation was designed by the NCAA to reduce the speed at which a ball leaves the bat as a safety measure to protect its infielders. The new bats outlaw certain composites and are a much closer approximation to the wooden bats used in Major League Baseball. The downside: slower ball speed translates to less homeruns.
But the downside may be just what the Rebels need.
According to the University of Mississippi’s Daily Mississippian, the new bats change the game from “homer-happy” to “pitcher friendly,” and could greatly benefit Bianco’s boys in the long run. The Rebels have yet to find trouble hitting homeruns and the pitching staff has yet to give up one themselves.
Knock on wood. The University of Houston Cougars are no chip shot.
Currently undefeated through four games, this season Houston is a strong player in the Conference USA title race: a conference that boasts the Rice Owls and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
At 4-0, Houston is off to its best start since the 1993 season. Catcher John Cannon holds a team high .545 batting average and third baseman Austin Gracey leads the team with two homeruns.
Ole Miss leads the all-time series 2-0.
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