Rebel baseball team begins three-game homestand

Chris Price
dm Staff writer

The Ole Miss baseball team is looking to improve on a good start at the opening of the season as it begins a three-game weekend series today against Louisiana Tech at Swayze Field.

Louisiana Tech (4-3) comes to Oxford following a midweek loss at Alabama.

Bulldog head coach Jeff "Whitey" Richardson views the series against the Rebs as an opportunity to measure his club's progression in the early part of the season.

"We have been working very hard in the weightroom and on the field and we are anxious to show people that we are a much improved team," Richardson said. "We are going to hit well, and if we pitch well, then we are going to have a good year."

The Bulldogs are led by senior shortstop T.J. Soto, who batted .344 last season with 77 hits, 65 RBI and 19 homeruns.

"I'd like to outdo last year's performance, but more than anything, I want this team to win," Soto said.

Rebel head coach Pat Harrison said Louisiana Tech has an offense known for its aggressive hitters.

Harrison said he is pleased with the performance his club has shown in early season play.

"(Justin) Huisman and (Chad) Hill are swinging the bat real well," Harrison said. "Once we get the rest of these guys swinging the bat like them, we'll have a potent offense."

Harrison said he was impressed with the effort of his starting pitching from the first series and will likely have the same rotation this weekend. Jeff McAvoy will start on Friday, Nathan Lyons will pitch on Saturday, and Joey Cramblitt will get the nod on Sunday.

The Rebels (3-1) began their current four-game home stand yesterday with a victory over Abilene Christian University.

The first pitch for today's game has been moved to 3 p.m. It was previously scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.