Ole Miss Baseball Faces Tennessee Volunteers in Weekend SEC Series

Rebels look to build on momentum from LSU sweep as SEC play continues

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:49pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic action of a college baseball game, with the contrasting colors and geometric shapes representing the competitive spirit of the Ole Miss Rebels and Tennessee Volunteers.The upcoming SEC baseball clash between Ole Miss and Tennessee promises an intense, high-stakes battle on the diamond.Knoxville Today

The Ole Miss Rebels baseball team will travel to Knoxville, Tennessee this weekend to take on the Tennessee Volunteers in a three-game SEC series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. After sweeping the LSU Tigers last weekend, Ole Miss will look to keep their strong play going against another tough conference opponent. The Rebels will start left-hander Hunter Elliott on the mound for Friday's series opener.

Why it matters

This SEC series is an important one for both Ole Miss and Tennessee as they continue to jockey for position in the conference standings. The Rebels are looking to build on their recent success, while the Volunteers will aim to defend their home field. The outcome of this series could have significant implications for the teams' postseason aspirations.

The details

Ole Miss will send left-hander Hunter Elliott (3-1, 3.69 ERA) to the mound for Friday's series opener against Tennessee's Landon Mack (3-2, 3.75 ERA). On Saturday, the Rebels will start right-hander Cade Townsend (3-1, 2.02 ERA) against the Volunteers' Tegan Kuhns (2-3, 3.77 ERA). Sunday's finale will feature Ole Miss right-hander Taylor Rabe (3-1, 3.16 ERA) against Tennessee left-hander Evan Blanco (3-2, 3.67 ERA).

  • The series begins on Friday, April 18, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. CT.
  • Game two is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • The series concludes on Sunday, April 20, 2026.

The players

Mike Bianco

The head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team.

Walker Hooks

A relief pitcher for the Ole Miss Rebels who has pitched well this season.

Hunter Elliott

The starting pitcher for Ole Miss in Friday's series opener against Tennessee.

Landon Mack

The starting pitcher for Tennessee in Friday's series opener against Ole Miss.

Cade Townsend

The starting pitcher for Ole Miss in Saturday's game against Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“He's really pitched lights out all year. Give (Ole Miss pitching coach) Joel (Mangrum) a lot of credit. He talked early on, probably before I was ready to to do it. He said, 'Hey, you know, I like Hooks at the end.' At that time it was early preseason.”

— Mike Bianco, Head Coach, Ole Miss Rebels

What’s next

The winner of this series will gain an advantage in the SEC standings as the regular season winds down. Both teams will be looking to secure a strong finish and position themselves for the postseason.

The takeaway

This SEC series between Ole Miss and Tennessee features two talented teams looking to make their mark in conference play. The Rebels will aim to build on their recent success, while the Volunteers will defend their home field. The outcome of this series could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.