SEC Baseball: 5 key players for each team during 2022 College World Series
By Matt Melton
Ole Miss Rebels
- 1B Tim Elko
- LHP Hunter Elliott
- SS Jacob Gonzalez
- 3B/OF Justin Bench
- RHP Josh Mallitz
Similar to Auburn previously, you simply cannot talk about players that will be key to the Rebels success in Omaha and not start with first baseman Tim Elko. Undoubtedly the top power threat in the Ole Miss lineup, Elko comes to the 2022 College World Series with a hit in four of his last five games, as well as a .302 AVG for the year with a team-high 22 HR and 71 RBI’s.
Elsewhere in the Ole Miss lineup, shortstop Jacob Gonzalez is also a significant power threat offensively with 17 HR on the year, as well as having a hit in six of his last eight games. The Rebels leading hitter, Justin Bench, leads Ole Miss with a .311 AVG for the year, and comes to Omaha swinging about as hot of a bat as you can find in college baseball, having collected at-least a hit in all but three games during the months of May and June.
As for the pitching staff, freshman left-hander Hunter Elliott owns a 2.82 ERA for the season, and could play a key role coming off arguably his best start of the year against Southern Miss in the super regional pitching 7.1 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. Countless other pitchers could play key roles for the Rebels, but reliever Josh Mallitz could be a name to watch for in particular as the right-hander comes to Omaha with a 1.30 ERA across 15 relief appearances this season, as well as having not allowed a run across his last six appearances.