No NCAA baseball team has ever had undefeated season. Some have come close, but everyone loses a game or two during the long season.<\/p>\n
So, No. 25 Ole Miss losing to Baylor by one run Friday at the BRUCE BOLT College Classic isn\u2019t a major concern. How the Rebels lost, though, is.<\/p>\n
Despite a pair of home runs from Tristan Bissetta, a great showing by Hunter Elliott with a career-high 11 strikeouts and Baylor batters striking out 20 times, the Rebels lost because the bats went silent at the worst possible time.<\/p>\n
The Rebels were 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position and only 4-for-20 with runners on base.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t do enough to win the baseball game,\u201d Ole Miss Mike Bianco said afterwards.<\/p>\n
Again, one loss doesn\u2019t make or break a season. But the Rebels can\u2019t afford to let golden opportunities like Friday pass them by.<\/p>\n
Luckily, Ole Miss doesn\u2019t have much time to reflect on the loss with a Saturday morning game against Ohio State. Here\u2019s everything to know about the first game Saturday at Daikin Park in Houston.<\/p>\n
The Opponent: Ohio State<\/p>\n
Ohio State rolls into the weekend at 5-2, still living out of a suitcase with no home games yet on the schedule. The Buckeyes opened with a sweep of Saint Louis down in Pensacola, then split four games at the Grind City Classic in Memphis with two wins over Memphis and two losses to Louisiana Tech.<\/p>\n
They haven\u2019t exactly profiled as a power\u2011hitting group so far. Only four home runs through seven games, and Mason Eckelman owns half of them. He\u2019s also driven in 10 runs and even legged out a triple on opening weekend. Miles Vandenheuvel has been their most consistent bat, hitting .391 with nine hits and three stolen bases in 23 at\u2011bats.<\/p>\n
On the mound, Chris Domke and Pierce Herrenbruck have been the steadiest arms. Domke leads the staff with a 2.45 ERA, while Herrenbruck is the only Buckeye to reach double\u2011digit innings so far. Gavin Kuzniewski is another name that shows up quickly \u2014 he leads the team with 13 strikeouts.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a group that hasn\u2019t shown big power yet but does enough on the mound and strings together competitive at\u2011bats.<\/p>\n
Weather Forecast<\/p>\n
Daikin Park had its roof open for Friday\u2019s games and, based on the weather forecast from the National Weather Service<\/a>, the roof could be open again Saturday.<\/p>\n From the NWS, the weather is expected to be \u201cSunny, with a high near 81. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n How to Watch: No. 25 Ole Miss vs. Ohio State<\/p>\n Who: No. 25 Ole Miss Rebels (9-1) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-3) Pitching Matchup<\/p>\n RHP Cade Townsend (0-0, 1.04 ERA) vs. RHP Chris Domke (1-1, 2.45 ERA)<\/p>\n Ole Miss Batting Lineup<\/p>\n 2B Dom Decker Lineup vs. Ohio State pic.twitter.com\/IHagDztyXf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhen: 11:05 a.m., Saturday
\nWhere: Daikin Park, Houston, Texas
\nTV:\u00a0Houston Astros YouTube Channel (free)<\/a>
\nRadio:\u00a0Live Radio<\/a>
\nStats:\u00a0Live Stats<\/a>
\nSeries History: Ole Miss leads the all-time series 2-1
\nLast Meeting: Ole Miss 12, Ohio State 7 (1977)
\nLast time out, Rebels: lost to Baylor, 6-5<\/a>
\nLast time out, Buckeyes: lost to UTSA, 6-5<\/p>\n
\n3B Judd Utermark
\nRF Tristan Bissetta
\nDH Collin Reuter
\n1B Will Furniss
\nLF Daniel Pacella
\nSS Brayden Randle
\nC Austin Fawley
\nCF Hayden Federico<\/p>\n