Ole Miss Baseball recently concluded their 2024 fall season with the highly anticipated Omaha Challenge. Spanning from September to November, the team engaged in intense weekly matchups not only against each other but also against external competition. This period served as a crucial time for improvement and preparation ahead of the spring. Let's delve into some of the standout performances from this approximately two-month stretch.

Offensive Standouts

Judd Utermark

Returning junior Judd Utermark emerged as a dominant force in the offensive category. His remarkable eight home runs, 16 RBI, and 17 runs scored placed him at the top of the team. His slugging percentage of.896 and OPS of 1.349 were also the highest on the team. Additionally, he boasted the second-highest batting average of.333 and an impressive 12 stolen bases.

Luke Hill

Luke Hill led the team in batting average, hitting an impressive.347 in 49 at bats. He also took the lead in stolen bases with 14 and had five doubles. Alongside Judd Utermark and Campbell Smithwick, he was one of the three Rebels to post an OPS over 1.000 with 60+ at bats.

Campbell Smithwick

Campbell Smithwick led the team in walks drawn with 16. He finished second in on-base percentage at.507 and had an OPS of 1.174. He hit.313 with five doubles, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored, and four home runs.

Isaac Humphrey

Louisville transfer Isaac Humphrey led the Rebels in total hits with 19, posting a.328 batting average and a.987 OPS. His consistent hitting contributed significantly to the team's offense.

Hayden Federico

Freshman Hayden Federico had the highest on-base percentage at.508 while hitting.326 and striking out only four times in 59 plate appearances. His ability to get on base was a valuable asset to the team.

Pitching Dominance

Walker Hooks

On the mound, Walker Hooks led the staff in ERA among pitchers who made more than three appearances. He posted a remarkable 0.75 mark over 12 innings of work, striking out 18 batters and not issuing a single walk while maintaining a WHIP of 0.83.

Cooper Johnson

Cooper Johnson led the team in strikeouts with 21. He also had the second-lowest ERA of 1.20 and a WHIP of 0.67. He worked the most innings among any pitcher in the fall, covering 15 innings in seven appearances.

Cade Townsend

Cade Townsend led the pitching staff in WHIP with a 0.63. He struck out 17 hitters and posted a 1.88 ERA while working 14.1 innings over seven appearances.

Hunter Elliott

Hunter Elliott made a successful return to the mound after having elbow surgery and being shut down during the 2023 season. In his first action, he made four appearances and posted a 1.80 ERA over 10 innings of work. He allowed just five hits and struck out 14 batters.

Landon Waters and Ryne Rodriguez

Meridian Community College transfer Landon Waters and returner Ryne Rodriguez each posted a 2.70 ERA over 10 innings of work. Waters struck out 10 batters, while Rodriguez punched out 16, ranking fourth on the team.

Sam Tookoian

Sam Tookoian worked the third-most innings on the staff, posting a 2.77 ERA with 13 strikeouts and holding hitters to a.119 batting average. His consistent pitching performance was crucial for the team.The Rebels are all set to open the 2025 season on February 14 against Arizona as part of the 2025 Shriners Children's College Showdown in Arlington, Texas. Season tickets for the 2025 Ole Miss Baseball season are now available for purchase at OleMissTix.com.