TUSCON, Ariz. – Ole Miss will begin the 2009 college baseball season ranked No. 11 by Collegiate Baseball magazine. Southern Miss comes in at No. 33, while Mississippi State did not crack the Top 40.

LSU edged North Carolina by one vote for the No. 1 spot. Carolina comes in at No. 2, followed by Rice, Georgia and Stanford. Six of 12 Southeastern Conference teams were ranked in the Top 40 as chosen by Collegiate Baseball.

The Rebels feature All-American relief pitcher Scott Bittle and former Vicksburg High standout Jordan Henry, who finished last season with a .292 batting average. He will be starting for the third straight year. The Rebels finished last season 39-26 and lost at the Coral Gables Regional in Miami.

Ole Miss opens the 2009 season on Feb. 20 against Liberty University at Mobile, Ala.

Southern Miss reached its sixth consecutive NCAA regional last season with a 42-22 record the Golden Eagles will once again play a challenging schedule with five teams ranked in the preseason poll including: Rice (No.3), Ole Miss, Cal State Fullerton (No.13), East Carolina (No. 31) and Tulane (No. 34).

Southern Miss was not ranked in the final poll last season but did reach as high as No 20 during the regular season.

Southern Miss will open the 2009 season on February 20 at Pete Taylor Park against Lehigh University.