Ole Miss Names Starting Rotation For Weekend Series Against Deleware

Mike Bianco has named his starting three for the weekend series against Deleware.

As Ole Miss baseball begins its victory tour as national champions Friday afternoon at Swayze Field against Delaware, Mike Bianco isn't wasting time naming his starting rotation. 

Bianco announced that Hunter Elliott, Grayson Saunier and Xavier Rivas would lead the Rebels as the starting pitching trio against the Blue Hens. Elliott will take the mound for the season opener Friday, while Saunier and Rivas will follow on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. 

Junior right-hander Jack Dougherty, who made four starts in 2022, will begin the year out of the bullpen, though Bianco said that the rotation is not set in stone for the remainder of the year. 

"I know it's the most talked about thing, but I say it often and I say it to them: You don't get a trophy for being a starter," Bianco said Wednesday. "Especially opening weekend. The rotation tends to change, but those are certainly the three guys, or four guys, counting Jack, that have separated themselves."

Elliott, the No. 2 pitcher last season behind Dylan DeLucia, becomes the new ace for the program looking to pick up its second national title. In 12 starts, the left-hander finished with a 2.70 ERA and 102 strikeouts while allowing 57 hits. In four postseason games, Elliott gave up four earned runs and struck out 28 batters. 

Saunier, a former top-150 prospect in the 2022 MLB Draft, told teams last summer that he intended on forgoing pro ball to play on The Grove. Bianco praised Saunier's attention to detail on the mound, stating the Tennessee native had "probably had as good a fall as any freshman I remember.”

One of the top pitching prospects in the Southeastern region, Saunier posted a 2.33 ERA with 63 strikeouts in over 48 innings at Collierville High School. The Texas Rangers drafted him in the 19th round of the MLB Draft last June. 

Rivas comes with starting experience from the Division II level. Last season at the University of Indianapolis, the southpaw posted an ERA of 2.24 and struck out a record-setting 128 batters. Rivas' best game for the Greyhounds came against Lake Erie when he struck out a season-high 14 batters in seven innings.

Dougherty, a right-hander, pitched in 17 games, including four starts last season. He finished with 61 strikeouts and 16 walks with a 4.91 ERA.

"Dougherty is probably the guy that’s kind of a wildcard, having the most significant time in the bullpen," Bianco said of the call. "I'm thinking starting out the first weekend gives us a little better feeling rather than bringing in someone who hasn’t done it before here." 

Bianco said that the starting nine to take the field against the Blue Hens might not be the permanent lineup, but the order gave Ole Miss the best chance to win. Tulane transfer Ethan Groff is slated to start in center field, while Northwestern transfer Anthony Calarco will replace College World Series hero Tim Elko at first base. 

First pitch Friday is set for 4 p.m. 

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