Kentucky

How Ole Miss baseball’s pitching options will factor in elimination game vs Western Kentucky

Published

10 months ago

May 31, 2025

How Ole Miss baseball’s pitching options will factor in elimination game vs Western Kentucky

OXFORD — The Rebels need to borrow the blueprint that Murray State used to beat them if they want a chance to stay alive.

Regional No. 1 Ole Miss baseball lost 9-6 to No. 4 Murray State on May 30. The loss puts the Rebels, the host team after earning the No. 10 national seed entering the NCAA tournament, in an early hole. They will face Western Kentucky, another 40-win team staring elimination in the face, on May 31 (1 p.m. CT).

Murray State’s upset, which sent a shockwave through the Oxford Regional, was derived in large part from Nic Schutte’s workhorse, 119-pitch performance. The Rebels (40-20) may need something similar against WKU (46-13).

“When their starter throws 120 pitches, it’s usually not good for you,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said.

Ole Miss will benefit greatly from its starter against Western Kentucky — probably ace Hunter Elliott, or he risks not throwing in the Oxford Regional — going deep into the game. The Rebels used much of their top bullpen talent in the loss against Murray State. Starter Riley Maddox was pulled after three innings. Mason Morris threw 54 pitches. Gunnar Dennis threw 14. Will McCausland threw 33. Connor Spencer, the closer, threw 11.

How does Bianco feel about his bullpen the rest of the way with his top options, especially Morris and McCausland, depleted?

“I don’t know,” Bianco said. “We’ve got a lot more pieces left, but when you have to get into the losers bracket, there’s going to be other guys that have to step up and pitch well. It starts with tomorrow. You’ve got to get through the game.”

Second baseman Judd Utermark reiterated the Rebels’ “Shower well” motto after the loss. It means players must have a short-term memory.

“It’s obviously frustrating, it being postseason,” Utermark said. “This is my first regional game. I had high hopes for us today. Ultimately we can’t control anything about this game anymore. We just have to put it past us.”

Western Kentucky has a strong offense. The Hilltoppers ended Conference USA play with the best team batting average (.318) and hits (542) in the league. Bianco said the key to Ole Miss overcoming its early stumble will be by taking one game at a time, starting with WKU.

“Somebody does it every year,” Bianco said. “Somebody loses Game 1 and makes it through. I like this club and I know we’ll stick together. I think you’ve got to be careful of trying to look to the finish line and look to the next step. The next step is tomorrow.”

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_

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Kentucky

Collin Chandler releases statement on transfer from Kentucky

Published

12 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Collin Chandler releases statement on transfer from Kentucky

Collin Chandler is saying farewell to Kentucky as he has entered the transfer portal following the completion of the 2025-26 season.

On Thursday, Chandler released a statement to On3. He concluded it by saying he’s going home. Chandler, a Utah native, is expected to transfer to BYU. He originally committed to play for Mark Pope at BYU, but went on his mission trip. Upon returning, he entered the portal and followed Pope to Lexington.

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“I am so grateful to Coach Pope, the assistant coaches and staff, my teammates, and the University of Kentucky and BBN for the last 2 years,” Chandler wrote. “You welcomed me into your family with open arms, were patient with me, and supported me every step of the way. You helped me grow so much — not just as a player, but as a man. You will always be family to me.

“I am returning home and excited for the work and challenges ahead.”

Chandler took a big step forward in 2025-26, his sophomore season. His production increased from 2.7 points per game to 9.7 as his playing time went up from 10.4 minutes per outing to 27.1 this season. In his second year, Chandler made 43.5% of his field-goal attempts, including 41% from 3-point range.

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.

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Kentucky

Former lieutenant at eastern Kentucky penitentiary sentenced to prison in assault case

Published

24 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Former lieutenant at eastern Kentucky penitentiary sentenced to prison in assault case

FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WCHS) — A Floyd County man who served as a lieutenant at an eastern Kentucky penitentiary was sentenced to prison Wednesday for falsifying records related to the assaults of inmates.

Michael Childers, 47, of Harold, Ky., was sentenced to 17 months in prison following a case that dates back to 2021 at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy in Inez, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Childers pleaded guilty to being present when an inmate was assaulted by fellow staff members and then writing an incident report that falsely claimed the inmate had struck him with his head and a closed fist.

Prosecutors said Childers admitted to writing the statements knowing they were false in an attempt to “ impede the administration of justice regarding the investigation of the unlawful assault on the inmate,” the news release said.

Under federal law, Childers must serve 85% of his prison sentence, according to the news release. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for one year.

Childers is the final defendant to be sentenced for the assault.

Former Lt. Terry Melvin pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights and violating an individual’s rights under the color of law. He was sentenced to 48 months in prison.

Another former lieutenant, Kevin Pearce was convicted of writing false reports that covered up the assaults of inmates and was sentenced to 66 months.

A third former lieutenant, Ryan Elliott, pleaded guilty to assaulting an inmate and writing a false report about the assault of a second inmate in an unrelated incident. He was sentenced in 2024 to 12 months and one day in prison.

Case management coordinator Samuel Patrick and captain’s secretary Clinton Pauley pleaded guilty to their roles in the assaults of inmates and were sentenced in 2023 to 36 and 40 months respectively.

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Kentucky

Miles Byrd to make transfer decision on Thursday, and Kentucky Basketball is a finalist

Published

1 day ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Miles Byrd to make transfer decision on Thursday, and Kentucky Basketball is a finalist

According to Jeff Goodman, San Diego State guard Miles Byrd will make his college choice on Thursday. His finalists include the Wildcats, Baylor Bears, Louisville Cardinals, Providence Friars, Texas Longhorns, Vanderbilt Commodores, and Cincinnati Bearcats.

The 6-6, 190-pound Byrd is one of the top players in the portal and has one season of eligibility remaining. This past season, he averaged 10.4 points on 40.5% shooting (30.8% from deep on 4.3 attempts per game), 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, earning him Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors.

If Kentucky is the choice, then Mark Pope and Co. will be hoping Byrd makes a Lamont Butler-type jump in offensive production like the latter did when he played his final season in Lexington. Butler and Byrd were actually teammates in the 2022-23 season when the latter redshirted.

As of this writing, it’s unclear who the perceived favorite is. When he first entered the portal, Baylor was viewed as the early school to watch, so the Bears could be the team to beat.

Byrd is currently ranked 13th overall and fifth among shooting guards in the 2026 transfer portal cycle by On3.

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