Ole Miss - March 21-23
Following the LSU series, Missouri returns home for its first home conference series against the Ole Miss Rebels. Led by legendary head coach Mike Bianco, now in his 24th season, the Rebels are looking to rebound after a disappointing 2024 campaign. Ole Miss finished 27-29 (11-19 SEC) and was eliminated in the first round of the SEC Tournament, marking only the third time in the Bianco era that the team failed to reach at least the Regionals.
The Rebels hope to bounce back in 2025 after ending the 2024 season on a five-game losing streak.
Offensively, Ole Miss didn’t lose many players, but they parted with some of their most impactful contributors to the transfer portal and the MLB Draft. Of the players who appeared in at least 50 games in 2024, juniors Luke Hill (.291 batting average) and Will Furniss (17 extra-base hits) are the only two returning and are expected to lead the Rebels in 2025.
To fill the gaps, others will need to step up, with some taking on bigger roles than they had last year and others being new additions to the lineup. Returners such as sophomores Brayden Randle and Campbell Smithwick, junior Judd Utermark, and senior Connor Chisolm are all expected to make an impact in 2025.
Behind them, Ole Miss will rely on a mix of freshmen and transfers. Freshmen like Owen Paino, Ethan Surowiec, and Jackson Miller, all highly rated recruits, have the potential to make a significant impact. Transfers, including Collin Reuter (BYU), Luke Cheng (Illinois State), and Mitchell Sanford (New Orleans), will also bolster the lineup as the Rebels look to bounce back this season.
On the pitching side, Ole Miss will look different in 2025 after losing several arms to the MLB Draft and the transfer portal. Leading the rotation once again will be senior Riley Maddox, who topped the team in starts last season (14) and finished with a 5.48 ERA. Seniors Gunnar Dennis (eight starts in 2024) and Mason Nichols (six starts) are expected to step into larger roles, along with potential contributions from transfers.
In the bullpen, many of the same contributors from 2024 will return to lead the group. Junior Mason Morris (23 appearances), Ryne Rodriguez (14), Brayden Jones (21), and Connon Spencer (18) are all expected to build on the roles they’ve established during their time with the program.
Helping to bolster the pitching staff will be several new faces. Freshmen Owen Hancock, Jake Reigert, and Cade Townsend, all highly regarded recruits, are expected to contribute right away. They’ll be joined by transfer additions looking to make an impact, including JP Robertson (Pearl River CC), Landon Waters (Meridian CC), and Alex Canney (Tampa).
Guys to look out for:
Judd Utermark
Ryan Moerman
Isaac Humphrey
Cole Ketchum