Ole Miss Baseball Looks to Rebound Against Surging Florida Gators

Rebels aim to bounce back after being swept at home by Mississippi State

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:21pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action of a college baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the Ole Miss Rebels and Florida Gators uniforms.The Rebels and Gators clash in a pivotal SEC baseball showdown, with each team's strengths and weaknesses deconstructed through a cubist lens.Gainesville Today

The Ole Miss Rebels baseball team heads to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators in a key SEC series. Ole Miss will start sophomore right-hander Taylor Rabe against Florida's ace, junior righty Liam Peterson. The Rebels are looking to rebound after being swept at home by in-state rival Mississippi State, while the Gators enter the series on a hot streak.

Why it matters

This series is an important test for Ole Miss as they try to get back on track in SEC play after the tough home sweep. Florida has emerged as one of the top teams in the conference, so a series win for the Rebels would be a major boost to their postseason hopes. The contrast in pitching styles between Rabe and Peterson also sets up an intriguing matchup on the mound.

The details

Ole Miss hands the ball to Rabe for his first SEC start of the season, a move that reflects his rapid rise in the Rebels' rotation. Rabe has been dominant out of the bullpen, posting a 2.61 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. The key will be how his stuff plays over a longer outing against Florida's powerful lineup. The Gators counter with Peterson, their strikeout machine who has 55 punchouts in 34.1 innings, though he has also issued 22 walks. Ole Miss will need to work deep counts and capitalize if Peterson struggles with control.

  • The series opener is tonight at 5:30 PM.
  • Ole Miss was swept at home by Mississippi State last weekend.

The players

Taylor Rabe

A sophomore right-hander for Ole Miss who has emerged as a dominant force out of the bullpen and will make his first SEC start of the season.

Liam Peterson

A junior right-hander and ace of the Florida pitching staff, Peterson has racked up 55 strikeouts in 34.1 innings this season.

Kyle Jones

Florida's dynamic center fielder and leadoff hitter, Jones hit .351 with 23 steals as a freshman at Stetson and now provides on-base skills and speed at the top of the Gators' lineup.

Brendan Lawson

Florida's shortstop has blossomed into a true run producer, opening the year with a team-high 9 home runs and 26 RBIs in the non-conference slate.

Ethan Surowiec

The former Ole Miss Rebel has transferred to Florida and is now one of the Gators' premier power threats, slashing .313/.425/.545 with 5 home runs.

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What’s next

The Rebels will look to clinch the series with a win tonight at 5:30 PM.

The takeaway

This series represents a crucial opportunity for Ole Miss to get back on track in SEC play and prove they can compete with one of the conference's top teams. The contrast in pitching styles and the Rebels' offensive struggles make this a compelling matchup that could have major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.