The Basics
Games 13-15
Oral Roberts (9-3) vs No. 2 Ole Miss (11-1)
Dates: March 11-13
Location: Oxford, Miss. (Swayze Field)
Watch: SEC Network+ | Listen: ORU Sports Network | Live Stats: StatBroadcast

OXFORD, Miss. – The Oral Roberts baseball team continues their six-game road trip with a three-game set against No. 2 Ole Miss March 11-13 in Oxford, Mississippi. Friday's series opener is set for 1 p.m., followed by 1:30 p.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday.

All three games will be broadcast on the SEC Network+ with Will Kollmeyer and Matt McLaughlin on the call. Adam Hildebrandt will have the radio call on the ORU Sports Network. 

Important Links
ORU Game Notes
Ole Miss Game Notes
Summit League Notes

Inside the Series
• The Golden Eagles are making their first-ever trip to Oxford, Miss. as Friday's series opener will mark the first meeting since 1982 between the two programs. ORU and Ole Miss split the four-game set played in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
 
• Under Head Coach Ryan Folmar, the Golden Eagles are 7-9 against SEC opponents. Last season, ORU took two of three against No. 8 LSU on the road.
 
• The Rebels are the first ranked opponent the Golden Eagles have faced this season. Since 2015, ORU is 12-22 against ranked teams.

Quick Hits     
• ORU enters the weekend winners of eight of their last 10 contests despite dropping Tuesday's midweek matchup at Wichita State, 6-4. Alec Jones, Jake McMurray, Caleb Denny and Holden Breeze all drove in a run during the contest.
 
• Over the last 10 games, ORU's offense has been scorching hot. The Golden Eagles are averaging 10 runs per game to go along with a .342 batting average during the stretch. ORU has also racked up 43 extra-base hits and a .434 on-base percentage.
 
• Jackson Loftin has been a key cog in the Golden Eagles lineup during the stretch and was recognized as the Summit League Player of the Week. The redshirt junior went 11-for-22 at the plate last week to go along with nine RBIs, three home runs, two doubles, a triple and four stolen bases. On the season, Loftin leads the conference in home runs (3), stolen bases (6) and slugging percentage (.698).
 
• On the mound, lefty Ledgend Smith was tabbed as the Summit League Pitcher of the Week. The redshirt senior struck out 17 batters over 11 innings of work en route to a 2-0 week. On the season, Smith holds a sterling 1.20 ERA, which leads the league.

• In the Summit League, ORU's offense ranks first in batting average (.327), runs (103), hits (137), doubles (27), triples (8), home runs (10) RBIs (100), slugging percentage (.501) and on-base percentage (.425). On the bump, the Golden Eagles lead the conference in ERA (3.23), strikeouts (117) and batting average against (.235).
 
• Nationally, ORU entered the week ranked sixth in triples, ninth in triples per game (0.73), ninth in batting average and 16th in on-base percentage.

• Mac McCroskey (.479/23) continues to lead the Summit League in average and hits. The redshirt junior entered the week ranked fifth nationally in hits and seventh in hits per game (2.0).
 
• Justin Quinn tops the league in triples with three and came into the week ranked third nationally.

• Isaac Coffey will be on the bump for Friday's contest, followed by Smith Saturday and AJ Archambo Sunday. All three starters picked up victories in their last outings.

• ORU was selected as the unanimous favorite to retain their regular-season crown in the 2022 Summit League Preseason Coaches' poll, garnering 36 points and all six of the possible first-place votes they could attain.

• Coffey earned plenty of preseason accolades as the junior was selected as the Summit League Preseason Pitcher of the Year by both D1 Baseball and Perfect Game USA. The Goleta, California, native also garnered Preseason All-American honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball. Outfielder Joshua Cox was selected as the Summit League Player of the Year by both D1 Baseball and Perfect Game USA. Brooks Fowler garnered Preseason Summit League Freshman of the Year honors from D1 Baseball.

Scouting the Opponent
• Ole Miss enters Friday's series opener on a two-game win streak after defeating Alcorn State, 16-1, Wednesday night. The Rebels launched two home runs and drew 14 walks in the victory. At home this season, Ole Miss is a perfect 9-0.
 
• Entering the week, the Rebels ranked sixth in scoring (10.4), eighth in slugging percentage (.560) and ninth in ERA (2.03).
 
• Offensively, Ole Miss is led by Calvin Harris (.542 batting average), Tim Elko (five home run) and Kevin Graham (17 RBIs).
 
• On the mound, the Rebels will throw LHP John Gaddis (0.64 ERA) Friday, RHP Derek Diamond (4.91 ERA) Saturday and RHP Jack Dougherty (0.00 ERA) Sunday.
 
• In the 2022 SEC Preseason Coaches' poll, the Rebels were selected as the favorites to win the SEC championship. Shortstop Jacob Gonzalez was named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team, while catcher Hayden Dunhurst, first baseman Elko, second baseman Peyton Chatagnier and outfielder Kevin Graham were named to the second team.
 
For the latest information on ORU Baseball, follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics app from the App Store or Google Play Store.