Rebels, 'Dogs ready for three-game set in Starkville

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
April 2, 2004
Mississippi State University and Ole Miss will meet on the baseball field this weekend coming from opposite ends of the Southeastern Conference Western Division spectrum.
The Rebels (22-3, 5-1 SEC) hold the top spot in the division six games into the season, while the Bulldogs (16-8, 2-4 SEC) are in last place in the West.
The three-game stand will be both teams' third conference series of the season, but when MSU and Ole Miss meet it is never just an ordinary meeting between SEC schools.
MSU has been successful against Ole Miss, since Bianco took over the program three years ago. The Bulldogs have won 11 of their last 13 games against the Rebels since the 2001 season.
The Bulldogs have struggled at the start of conference play, winning just one game in each of their first two SEC series.
MSU dropped its first two SEC contests of the season losing 9-4 and 8-3 to Tennessee on March 19 and 20 before picking up a 2-1 win on March 21 against the Volunteers.
The Bulldogs won the first game of their three-game stand at LSU last weekend 7-3, but they were blown out in the final two games 11-6 and 14-3 against the Tigers.
MSU has juggled its lineup over the first half of the season with only five players with over 20 starts in the field and two players with 20 starts.
Ole Miss started conference play with a sweep of Vanderbilt at home. The Rebels posted 5-4, 6-5 and 3-1 wins over the Commodores on March 19-21.
The Rebels picked up two out of three wins against the Alabama Crimson Tide last weekend. Ole Miss won the first and third game of the series.
Bianco said the significance of the series against MSU will come to light long after the three games are played at Dudy Noble Field.
Mark Holliman will open the the series on the mound for Ole Miss. The sophomore right-hander has a 3.03 ERA and is sporting a 4-0 record in six starts.
Jamie Gant will get the ball tonight for MSU. The sophomore right-hander will be making his sixth start of the year. He has posted a 3-2 record and has a 3.00 ERA.
MSU's Josh Johnson, who has a 2-1 record and a 3.58 ERA, will match up against Ole Miss' Brae Wright, who is sporting a 5-0 mark and a 1.43 ERA.
Stephen Head, who has a 3-0 record and a 3.21 EAR, will start the final game for Ole Miss, and Jeff Lacher, who is 2-3 for the year with a 5.33 ERA, will get the ball for MSU on Sunday.
The three-game series should also get an extra boost in attendance thanks to MSU holding its first scrimmage of the Spring on Saturday.