Preview: What’s at stake for LSU and Ole Miss in SEC Tournament semifinals?

The stage is set for a fierce SEC Tournament semifinal battle as the LSU Tigers face off against the Ole Miss Rebels for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon in Hoover, Alabama. With a spot in the conference championship game on the line, both teams will be looking to ride momentum and star power into the final.

LSU enters the semifinals as the third seed after finishing the regular season with a 19–11 SEC record. The team clutched a close win against Texas A&M on Friday night in a 4-3 pitchers duel.

The Tigers have demonstrated consistency throughout the year and boast a roster filled with both veteran leadership and standout talent.

The Tigers’ pitching staff has been a reliable force all season. After the Friday night matchup, the two starters, Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, will be unavailable for the rest of the tournament, leaving a question of who Jay Johnson will pull out of the bullpen.

He can use freshman Casan Evans, who has been crucial at times through his 41 innings pitched, 53 strikeouts and 3-1 record. He is also followed by pitchers like Zac Cowan, Chase Shores or even Mavrick Rizy.

Offensively, LSU is led by one of the most feared hitters in the SEC currently: Ethan Frey. The designated hitter is slashing .356 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. His bat sets the tone for a deep lineup that includes first baseman Jared Jones, with a .344 batting average and 19 home runs, and freshman outfielder Derek Curiel, a high-contact hitter who provides balance in the top of the order.

LSU’s offensive power and deep pitching rotation make them a formidable opponent as they chase their first SEC Tournament title since 2017. Last year, they fell in the finals to Tennessee.

The Ole Miss Rebels have embraced their underdog role. Entering the tournament as the seventh seed with a 16–14 conference record, the Rebels have turned up the intensity and are riding a hot streak into the semifinals.

The Rebels rank among the top five in the SEC in home runs, thanks to a powerful lineup that has launched 102 long balls on the year. Leading the charge is Jude Utermark, who led off a five-run first inning for the Rebels in the semifinals with an RBI single. He has a .298 batting average and 16 home runs on the season, with power that any LSU pitcher should watch out for.

Along with Utermark, Luke Hill, who leads his team in batting with a .343 batting average, was among the players who have been shaking it up in Hoover this week. His ability to drive the ball out of the park at any moment makes him a constant threat in the middle of the order.

Ole Miss thrives on timely hitting and aggressive baserunning, putting pressure on opposing defenses. The offensive outbursts have made them one of the most dangerous teams in the bracket, especially when they find early momentum.

While Ole Miss’ pitching was inconsistent earlier in the season, the staff has stepped up in the postseason. Freshman Cade Townsend will reportedly start against LSU. Townsend has 38 strikeouts on the year through 28.1 innings, along with a 6.67 ERA.

“I wanted to eyeball the game Ole Miss was playing, and there’s a certain familiarity with their team after playing them for forever,” said head coach Jay Johnson. “They’re a really good team, and they are better this year, so we’ll get ready for that.”

Look for the Rebels to utilize a mix of experienced starters and versatile relievers to keep LSU’s powerful bats off-balance. Their ability to manage LSU’s lineup could be the key to pulling off another tournament upset.

The winner of this semifinal clash will punch its ticket to the SEC Championship Game and likely boost their NCAA Tournament seeding.

For LSU, it’s a chance to cap off a strong season with a conference title run. For Ole Miss, it’s about proving their resilience and recapturing the magic that helped them win the national championship just two years ago in 2023.