Tennessee Archives - All Mississippi Baseball

a page-turner … so far

Though the book is far from finished, Ole Miss is writing one of the best stories in college baseball. From unranked in preseason — and picked to finish 15th in the vaunted SEC — the Rebels are 24-7 and ranked seventh nationally again this week in Baseball America’s Top 25. The Rebels battled for a 5-4 win in 12 innings at Kentucky on Saturday to win their third straight SEC series. They’re 8-4 in the league. National champs three years ago, UM foundered through the ’23 and ’24 seasons. Coach Mike Bianco rebuilt the roster for 2025 and apparently has found pieces that fit. The Rebels are middle-of-the-pack in the league in hitting (ninth in average) and pitching (12th in ERA). But they’re winning, which is all that really matters. In that 12-inning victory at Kentucky, they took a lead in the 11th, then lost it. Undaunted, they got a clutch two-run homer from Luke Hill — a .353 hitter — in the final frame and an heroic save from Alex Canney, who has a 1.50 ERA. A big week looms. The Rebels visit longtime rival Memphis on Tuesday, host undermanned Alcorn State on Wednesday and then welcome No. 4 Tennessee to Swayze Field for a weekend series that could define the season. The Vols, defending national champs, are 28-4 and 9-3 and no doubt plenty angry after losing a series at Texas A&M in ugly fashion (17-6 in the finale). UM fans are no doubt eager to see how the next chapter of this season is penned. P.S. Whenever there’s a list, there’s usually a Mississippian on it. Since 2007, Barry Bonds’ last season, San Francisco has started a different left fielder on opening day every year — 18 all told. Fred Lewis, former Stone County High and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College standout, is on the list. He was in left field on April 7, 2009, and he went 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs — plus an error — in a 10-6 win over Milwaukee at AT&T Park. In 2009, Lewis was in the fourth year of a seven-year MLB career in which he batted .266.

what are the odds?

The oddsmakers don’t like Southern Miss’ chances of beating Tennessee in the best-of-3 Super Regional that starts today (2 p.m., ESPNU). The Vols are heavily favored. Even though: USM beat the odds to win the Auburn Regional through the losers bracket. Even though: USM is 26-5 at Taylor Park. Even though: Tennessee is 5-12 on the road and 7-14 away from home overall. Even though: It has been 31 years since a UT team ventured south to Hattiesburg. Even though: The Pete will be filled to the gills with extremely vocal gold-shirted cranks. Tennessee is favored. Even though: The Golden Eagles scored 40 runs in five games in the regional and had five hitters make the all-tournament team. Even though: USM has put up double-digit runs nine times at home this season. (“The park tends to play a little offensive, so they’ve always had good offenses,” Vols coach Tony Vitello said of USM’s lineup.) Tennessee is favored. Even though: The Eagles’ deep pitching staff features All-America right-hander Tanner Hall (12-3, 2.08 ERA), penciled in for Game 2 on Sunday. (“He takes advantage of hitters who are overzealous. Really preys on hitters who are overzealous,” the high-strung Vitello said of Hall.) Tennessee is favored. Even though: Eagles players desperately want to keep the season alive for their retiring coach, the beloved and respected Scott Berry. Yes, Tennessee has some power bats, five with 12 or more homers. And the Vols have two pitchers ranked by MLB Pipeline among the top 2023 draft prospects, including No. 6 Chase Dollander, expected to go Sunday. But these Eagles have a lot going for them this weekend, despite what the odds might say.