OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA/Ole Miss Athletics) – The Ole Miss baseball team pulled in recognition on a team and individual level this week when Collegiate Baseball tabbed junior right-hander Bobby Wahl as a preseason All-America selection and ranked the Rebels 25th nationally in the publication’s preseason poll.
Wahl, who was named a second team All-America selection in the preseason, enters the 2013 campaign anchoring the Rebel pitching staff with a return to his role as the Friday night starter, a role he filled as a sophomore a year ago. The right-hander posted a (7-4) record last season with a 2.55 ERA and struck out 104 batters while walking only 32 in 99.0 innings of work.
He held opponents to a .211 batting average against and combined for three shutouts on the year, including a win over then top-ranked Florida to set the stage for a series win. Wahl played a key role in that series win during the finale as well, scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth as a pinch runner. He also picked up wins over No. 10 TCU, UNC-Wilmington, Houston, Auburn, Tennessee and again over TCU in the opening game of the NCAA Regional at Texas A&M.
The Rebels are coming off a season in which the squad posted a (37-26) record and advanced to the championship game of an NCAA Regional for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. It also marks the 10th NCAA Tournament appearance for Ole Miss in the Mike Bianco era and 17th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time.
The Rebels open the 2013 season on February 15 with the first game of a three-game series against No. 15 TCU at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field.
