Magnolia diamond rivalry resumes

By By Carver Rayburn / staff writer
March 28, 2003
OXFORD Pitchers dueling it out on the mound should be on tap, as two of the top ranked mound staffs in the Southeastern Conference clash this weekend.
No. 9 Mississippi State (19-3-1, 5-1) travels 90 miles up the road to Oxford for a three-game series with the Rebels.
The No. 29-ranked Ole Miss Rebels (17-7, 5-1) are looking to avenge last year's unforgettable slump that cost the program a berth in the SEC tournament and the College World Series.
The buzz around the two squads' dugouts is all about the pitching staffs, as the Magnolia State teams open a three-game series at 4 p.m. today. The game can be heard locally on 1010 AM.
The Rebels and Bulldogs both bring staffs with ERAs under two into the the in-state rivalry, which concludes at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Jackson in the annual Mayor's Cup game.
The Bulldogs' 30-year college coaching veteran is right, Ole Miss' starters for the weekend combine an earned run average of 1.96. The Bulldogs top that with an average of 1.93.
Ole Miss is expected to start freshman right-hander Mark Holliman (3-0, 1.55 era) today, and MSU should counter with sophomore Paul Maholm (3-1, 1.80 era).
Saturday's starters will most likely be Ole Miss' Eric Fowler (1-1, 2.73) against the Bulldogs' Alan Johnson (3-0, 2.35).
The potential rubber game on Sunday will see MSU send Todd Nicholas (3-0, 1.65) up against the Rebels' T.J. Beam (3-0, 1.62).
The Ole Miss Ticket Office reported on Thursday afternoon that Saturday's game had been sold out, but standing room only tickets will be sold in the left-field grill two hours prior to each game. There are still a few chair-back tickets remaining for Friday and Sunday.
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco stressed that his team will be ready to play and have been waiting for another shot at the Bulldogs for too long.
Bianco added that the rivalry is there between the two schools and that emotions will be running high.
On the offensive side of the diamond, Ole Miss is led by Stephen Head (.362) and Seth Smith (.347), and brings a team that has won eight of their last nine into today's game.
MSU will bring a team batting average of .322 and have eight players batting at .300 or better.
Today's game will begin at 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday's game will take place at 1:30 p.m.