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Ole Miss Baseball Hosts No. 15 Kentucky in SEC Showdown
The Rebels look to earn their first SEC series win of the season against the Wildcats
Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:35pm
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Ole Miss Baseball (17-5, 1-2 SEC) will host No. 15 Kentucky (18-2, 3-0 SEC) this weekend for their first home SEC series of the season. The series begins on Thursday with first pitch set for 7 p.m. on SEC Network. Friday's first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. and Saturday will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Why it matters
This SEC showdown between Ole Miss and Kentucky is an important early-season conference matchup, as both teams look to establish themselves as contenders in the highly competitive SEC. The Rebels are seeking their first SEC series win of the year, while the Wildcats are off to a hot 18-2 start and 3-0 in SEC play.
The details
Ole Miss will send left-hander Hunter Elliott (2-0, 4.38 ERA) to the mound for Thursday's series opener, while Kentucky will counter with left-hander Ben Cleaver (1-0, 1.84 ERA). The Rebels' probable starters for the rest of the series are TBA for Friday and left-hander Wil Libbert (2-2, 5.96 ERA) for Saturday. Kentucky will go with right-hander Jaxon Jelkin (4-0, 3.38 ERA) on Friday and right-hander Nate Harris (3-1, 4.03 ERA) on Saturday.
- The series begins on Thursday with first pitch set for 7 p.m. on SEC Network.
- Friday's first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday's game will begin at 1:30 p.m.
The players
Nick Mingione
The 10th-year head baseball coach at Kentucky, who has twice been named National Coach of the Year.
Jayce Tharnish
The junior outfielder for Kentucky who leads the team in stolen bases and hits.
Ethan Hindle
Kentucky's most dangerous batter, with 17 extra base hits, including 9 doubles and 6 home runs, and a team-leading 25 RBIs.
Tyler Bell
Kentucky's preseason All-American who has been dealing with shoulder soreness and has only participated in 6 games this season.
Hunter Elliott
The left-handed starting pitcher for Ole Miss, who will take the mound for the series opener.
What’s next
The winner of this series will take a big step forward in the SEC standings and strengthen their case for an NCAA Tournament berth.
The takeaway
This weekend's series between Ole Miss and Kentucky features two talented teams looking to make an early statement in SEC play. The Rebels will need to find a way to slow down Kentucky's potent offense, led by Jayce Tharnish and Ethan Hindle, if they want to earn their first SEC series win of the season.
