[03/20/01] Basketball isn’t the only success story for Sweet 16-bound Ole Miss these days.

The Rebels are off to an 18-5 start on the diamond and are ranked in the latest national polls 19th in Collegiate Baseball, 25th in Baseball America and 24th in Baseball Weekly/ESPN.

Under first-year head coach Mike Bianco, Ole Miss is coming off its first Southeastern Conference series sweep since 1986. The Rebels, who knocked off then-No. 12 Auburn to wind up in a four-way tie for the SEC West lead, are off to their best start since 1964.

LSU, Alabama and Mississippi State are also 4-2 in division play.

The Rebels host the unranked Crimson Tide this weekend.

MSU fell out of the poll after dropping two to Vanderbilt.

Leading the way for Ole Miss are freshman right-hander Adam Yates (4-0), who has pitched 31 consecutive scoreless innings, and sophomore Chad Sterbens, who is batting a team-high .441. Burney Hutchinson (.296) leads the team in home runs with six.

The Rebels host Mississippi Valley at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.