Mississippi

Hosting NCAA Tournament unlikely for Ole Miss baseball, other takeaways from MSU series

Published

10 months ago

May 11, 2025

Hosting NCAA Tournament unlikely for Ole Miss baseball, other takeaways from MSU series

STARKVILLE — Despite a late-inning rally, Ole Miss baseball lost at Mississippi State in the series finale on May 10.

The No. 22 Rebels scored two runs in the seventh inning and two runs in the eighth, but stranded the tying runner at first in the ninth inning in their 6-5 loss. The teams had split a doubleheader on May 9, with the Rebels winning the first game 10-4 and losing the second 4-1.

Because Ole Miss won 8-7 in the Governor’s Cup in Pearl on April 22, the overall season series is tied 2-2.

“Just disappointing,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said. “We didn’t play well enough. They outplayed us again. Disappointing way to end the weekend.”

Here are three takeaways:

Where Ole Miss baseball stands in regional host outlook

Four regular-season games are left on Ole Miss’ schedule. Three of them provide a chance to impress.

The Rebels (34-17, 14-13 SEC) will host UT Martin on May 13, then close the regular season with a three-game home series against No. 8 Auburn. The Tigers (36-15, 16-11) are No. 3 in the RPI.

As it stands heading into that stretch, Ole Miss hasn’t done enough to earn a host bid. It entered the Mississippi State series projected as a No. 2 seed in a regional. Winning one of three games against the unranked Bulldogs isn’t going to help the forecast.

Sweeping Auburn and going on a run in the SEC Tournament, however, could be enough to put Ole Miss into the conversation for a top-16 seed.

“We’ll get over it,” Bianco said. “Obviously a disappointing night. This will sting for a few days but we’ll be ready to go.”

Strikeouts are hurting Rebels’ offense

The second game of the series on May 9 illuminated Ole Miss’ struggle. Mississippi State recorded 16 strikeouts, 15 of them by Evan Siary in eight innings.

The Rebels have struck out at least 10 times in their past six games, and it’s adding up. They have struck out 476 times this season, the most in the SEC.

Oftentimes, strikeouts and home runs go hand-in-hand. That is true in Ole Miss’ case, with 93 homers, fourth-most in the SEC.

The strikeouts aren’t totally stunting the offense, however. The Rebels have scored 388 runs, No. 6 in the SEC. But on days when the home runs aren’t coming in droves — such as May 10 against Mississippi State, in a rainy, five-error game, with the wind blowing in — Ole Miss could have scratched more runs across by putting balls in play.

“We didn’t have a ton of base runners,” Bianco said. “Credit their pitching staff. Disappointing offensively for us.”

Ole Miss baseball starter Riley Maddox is back on track

It’s easy to overlook Ole Miss pitcher Riley Maddox’s strong start. The Rebels lost the game 4-1, but most of the action came after he left the game. Maddox pitched 6⅓ innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits. He struck out a season-high eight and walked just two.

Maddox was coming off a rough outing on May 3, when he allowed five runs on eight hits against Oklahoma in 4⅓ innings.

When he has his best stuff, as evidenced against Mississippi and in a seven-inning, one-run performance against Vanderbilt on April 26, he is a major asset. Consistency has been his problem.

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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Mississippi

It’s 2,350 miles long, spans 31 US states and is home to a 100kg animal with a tongue that looks like a worm | Discover Wildlife

Published

9 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

It’s 2,350 miles long, spans 31 US states and is home to a 100kg animal with a tongue that looks like a worm | Discover Wildlife

The Mississippi River flows for around 2,350 miles through the heart of the US. It drains an area of 1.2 million square miles – that’s roughly 40% of the country – and at certain points is 11 miles wide. It is North America’s second longest river, behind the Missouri River.

Rising from Lake Itasca in Minnesota, the Mississippi winds southwards through a range of environments, draining water from 31 US states before reaching its delta at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.

The sheer size of the river and the diversity of habitats it passes through make it a refuge for a huge range of animal species, including more than 260 fish, 326 birds, 50 mammals and at least 145 amphibians and reptiles, according to the National Park Service.

The Mississippi River flows from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: Rainer Lesniewski/Getty Images

There are many weird and wonderful animals living within the Mississippi’s vast waters, but surely one of the strangest is the alligator snapping turtle.

This prehistoric-looking reptile is massive. It can weigh up to 100kg and males can grow well over half a metre long, making it the largest freshwater turtle in North America.

And as if its size wasn’t enough, the alligator snapper has a host of other characteristics that make it one of the Mississippi’s most striking creatures, including a dark, spiky shell (known as carapace), a brick-like head and a sharp, hooked beak. With such a formidable appearance, it’s easy to see how the turtle got its ‘alligator’ name.

But perhaps the turtle’s most curious feature is a worm-like appendage found on its tongue, which it uses as a lure to catch prey, such as fish, amphibians and invertebrates. Alligator snappers are also quite happy scavenging for food.

More amazing wildlife stories from around the world

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Mississippi

Mississippi House of Representatives passes bill to make NIL earnings non-taxable

Published

21 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Mississippi House of Representatives passes bill to make NIL earnings non-taxable

NIL money comes with a price. More specifically, a tax bill.

The Mississippi legislature is trying to reduce that burden for college athletes who play there.

Via Bea Anhuci of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, the Mississippi House of Representatives has passed a bill that would exempt NIL earnings from state income tax.

It’s a recruiting tool for Ole Miss and Mississippi State, one that would put the Mississippi schools on equal footing with other states that host SEC universities. Florida, Tennessee, and Texas have no state income tax, and Arkansas carved out NIL earnings from the state’s income tax burden in 2025.

Mississippi currently charges a four-percent tax on anyone making more than $10,000 per year.

NIL earnings remain subject to federal income tax.

The bill will have to also pass the Mississippi Senate, and the governor would then be required to sign it into law.

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Mississippi

Why Rebels are keeping pace for Mississippi State CB commit Brandon Allen Jr

Published

2 days ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Why Rebels are keeping pace for Mississippi State CB commit Brandon Allen Jr

Ole Miss is working to eventually flip Mississippi State cornerback commit Brandon Allen Jr. (Atlanta, Ga.). Ahead of a packed spring travel schedule, visiting multiple programs, Allen speaks on his current recruitment with Rebels247.com.

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