Rebels, Bulldogs, Eagles set to open conference play tonight

By By Shawn Wansley / EMG sports writer
March 19, 2004
Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State and Ole Miss have posted impressive numbers so far this baseball season, but the games take on added importance this weekend as conference play opens for all three teams.
The Golden Eagles host Houston in Conference USA action. In the Southeastern Conference, Mississippi State entertains Tennessee and Vanderbilt visits Ole Miss.
Houston at Southern Miss
Southern Miss is ranked No. 18 by the National College Baseball Writers Association, No. 19 by Sports Weekly, No. 21 by Baseball America and No. 26 by Collegiate Baseball.
The Golden Eagles, 15-2, are hitting .340 as a team with 36 doubles, nine triples and 22 home runs. They have a team earned run average of 3.12. Houston is 7-12 overall. The Cougars defeated No. 3 and defending national champion Rice on Tuesday.
Anthony DeWitt is expected to start for the Eagles tonight against Houston's Brett Cooley. DeWitt is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Cooley is 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA.
On Saturday, Cliff Russum will start for the Eagles vs. Houston freshman Shea Hancock. Russum is 4-0 with a 0.64 ERA and is coming off throwing the first no-hitter in C-USA history last weekend vs. Eastern Illinois. He struck out 15 in that game. Hancock is 0-1 with a 2.87 ERA.
On Sunday, Eagle freshman Patrick Ezell will be paired up against Cougar freshman Brad Lincoln. Ezell is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA, while Lincoln is 1-1 with a 6.41 ERA.
Matt Shepherd leads the Eagles with a .479 batting average, while Jarrett Hoffpauir is hitting .472. Senior Ryan Frith is hitting .419 with a team-high six homers and 17 RBIs.
Game times are 6:30 tonight, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
Vanderbilt at Ole Miss
Ole Miss is 15-1 after plastering Memphis 19-0 Wednesday night.
The Rebels are No. 11 in Baseball America, and Collegiate Baseball. Vanderbilt is 13-2 and is ranked No. 3 by Collegiate Baseball.
Stephen Head leads the Rebels with a .455 average, seven home runs and 29 RBIs. Barry Gunther is hitting .441 and Brian Pettway is hitting .373 with nine homers and 26 RBIs.
On the mound, Head is 2-0 with two saves and a 1.65 ERA. Brae Wright is 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA.
Vanderbilt took two of three at Baylor last weekend.
Jensen Lewis, 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA, beat the Bears, 1-0 last weekend. Warner Jones leads the Commodores on offense with a .517 batting average with four home runs and 28 RBIs.
Game times are 6:30 tonight and 1:30 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Tennessee at Mississippi State
The Bulldogs are 12-2 and Tennessee is 17-2 and has won 13 in a row. Mississippi State is ranked No. 24 by Baseball America and No. 21 by Collegiate Baseball. Tennessee is No. 19 in Collegiate Baseball.
Hattiesburg's Craig Tatum leads the Bulldogs with a .404 average, two home runs and 13 RBIs. True freshman Jeffery Rea is hitting .354.
On the mound, Saunders Ramsey is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA out of the bullpen. He has 22 strikeouts in 14.1 innings and has given up just two hits this season.
Jamie Gant, 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA, is tonight's expected starter. Tennessee is led by Michael Rivera, who is hitting .376 with two home runs and 33 RBIs. Chris Kemp is hitting .388 with two home runs and 28 RBIs.
On the hill, the Vols are led by Derek Tharpe, who is 4-0 with a 1.72 ERA. Ben Riley is 2-0, with a 2.61 ERA.
Game times are 6:30 tonight, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.