Ole Miss Faces Familiar Foe in Florida with SEC Quarterfinal, Possible Regional Host Berth at Stake
HOOVER, Ala. — Fresh off a strong showing in the regular season and a 2-1 series win over Florida back in March, the No. 7-seed Ole Miss Rebels are set to face off against the No. 10-seed Florida Gators on Wednesday night in a pivotal SEC Tournament matchup.
Tourney Time 😤 pic.twitter.com/g2QMvlvs61
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 21, 2025
A lot on the line
When these two teams met earlier this season in Oxford, the Rebels took two out of three from the Gators. Now, with a quarterfinal berth on the line in Hoover, the stakes are even higher.
“We played them early in the year, so it’s a totally different Ole Miss team and we’re a totally different Florida team,” said Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan.
While the Gators are seeking redemption after narrowly missing a series win in Oxford, the Rebels are focused on maintaining momentum and making a statement on the SEC’s postseason stage. Ole Miss (37-18) could use a strong week in Hoover to elevate its NCAA Tournament regional host case, especially since the red-hot Gators are also under consideration for a potential hosting berth.
Florida is set to become the first SEC team to ever reach the NCAA Tournament after starting SEC play 2-10 or worse since 1992 league expansion.
Hunter Elliott set to take the mound for the Rebels
Ole Miss is set to hand the ball to veteran left-hander Hunter Elliott (8-3, 3.31 ERA), who was effective in his previous outing against Florida. In that game, the Tupelo, Mississippi native threw 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out seven—setting the tone for a crucial win.
Elliott has been a reliable force in the Rebels’ rotation all season, and he’ll look to do it again under the lights tonight.
Florida, meanwhile, has had success against left-handed pitching this year, posting a .284 average against southpaws. Their lineup will feature five right-handed bats, led by Bobby Boser, Ty Evans, and Brody Donay, who combined to go 7-for-13 with two homers and seven RBIs in Tuesday’s win over South Carolina.
Rebels look to capitalize against Liam Peterson
The Gators are expected to start Liam Peterson, who struggled the last time he faced Ole Miss. In that outing, Peterson lasted just 4.1 innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits while striking out six. The Rebels will look to apply pressure early once again and force the Gators into their bullpen.
Florida is entering this matchup with a fresh set of arms thanks to Tuesday’s efficient pitching performance. While Peterson gets the start, Florida’s bullpen—including Jake Clemente, Alex Philpott, and Luke McNeillie—is fully available.
“Now we haven’t used Jake [Clemente] since last Thursday when he threw 29 pitches. We got our No. 1 going tomorrow, in Liam. We can extend Jacob if need be. We’re in as good a shape as can be pitching-wise going into tomorrow’s game.”
Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan
Rebel pitcher injury updates
Ole Miss, on the other hand, enters the game without Brayden Jones, who tore his UCL on April 29.
Additionally, Ole Miss may be without one of the team’s key arms. Junior right-hander Mason Nichols exited Saturday’s game against Auburn after appearing to suffer an injury mid-delivery. On Sunday, the program confirmed that Nichols has been diagnosed with a mild internal oblique strain and is currently listed as day-to-day.
“It happens like that. Reached forward and knew immediately that probably wasn’t a good thing.”
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco describing the moment Nichols sustained the injury
Nichols threw 3.2 innings before being leaving the game, giving up three earned runs on three hits, walking five Auburn batters, and striking out two.
The outing marked Nichols’ 14th start of the season. Over the course of the regular season, he logged 50.2 innings, posted a 5.52 ERA, and tallied 51 strikeouts against 24 walks, and as the third starter in the weekend rotation has been a valuable piece of the Rebels’ pitching plan.
What’s next for the Rebels?
Due to weather delays, first pitch between Ole Miss and Florida is now scheduled for 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday night. The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network.
With postseason implications in play and a familiar opponent across the diamond, Ole Miss has the opportunity to prove once again that it belongs among the SEC’s elite. A win would push the Rebels into the quarterfinals and strengthen their NCAA Tournament standing.
Stay locked in with The Rebel Walk for full postgame coverage and updates from Hoover.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
