Getting to host a NCAA Tournament Super Regional is nothing new to Ole Miss. Winning one, though, would be.

In 2005, the Rebels were one win away against Texas and in again in 2006 against the University of Miami. They lost both series in three games. In 2007, after winning their third straight Oxford Regional, the Rebels were sent to Arizona State where they lost in two games.

Oxford Super Regional

TV: ESPN2

Radio: 1490 AM, 105.5 FM

Friday’s Game: Virginia vs. Ole Miss, 1  p.m.

Saturday’s Game: 11 a.m.

Sunday’s Game: 2 p.m. (if necessary)

On Monday night, thanks to the heroic performance of sophomore right-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz, the Rebels (43-18) won their fourth Oxford Regional, dispatching a hard-hitting Western Kentucky squad 4-1. Coupled with Virginia’s upset of top-seeded California-Irvine, the Rebels have again earned another Super Regional for Oxford Stadium.

This one, however, is going to be hot. Thanks to ESPN, the best of three series between the Rebels and the Cavaliers (46-12-1) will start Friday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Game 2 on Saturday is slated for an 11 a.m. start and will be shown live on ESPN2. If a third game is necessary, it will be Sunday at 2 and carried by ESPN.

Virginia coach Brian O’Conner said Tuesday at the school’s press conference that he is expecting a tough environment.

“This weekend there will be 10,000 fans. I think it is one of the top two environments in college baseball — obviously a real advantage for Ole Miss. With that comes pressure. Our team has been a lot more relaxed than the coach has been — and they are the ones who are doing the playing,” O’Connor said.

Virginia advanced to Oxford after beating the top major league draft prospect San Diego State’s Stephen Strasburg, 5-1 in the opening game of the Irvine Regional. The Cavaliers then beat the host Anteaters 5-0 and 4-1 to claim the regional. The Irvine regional title comes off the heels of the Cavaliers winning the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

“We are playing our best baseball at the most important time of the year and I think our confidence is at an all-time high. It is not misplaced confidence because of what we knew coming out of the ACC Tournament and what we did at Irvine. What we accomplished at Irvine is something really special,” O’Connor said.

Ole Miss, meanwhile, is still basking in the overglow of Pomeranz’ complete-game, two-hitter, which included 16 strikeouts.

“We knew that he was a that type of guy who would give you that type of Curt Schilling, bloody sock performance that people will remember for the rest of their lives,” Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said in a post-regional conference. “I’m proud of the rest of the team in how they responded, but they have responded like this all year long. At times, we haven’t been our best and at times we have been slapped around and knocked down to the canvas, but they have always responded.”

The Rebels bounced back Monday after a gut-wrenching 10-9 loss to Western Kentucky on Sunday night that could’ve ended the regional. Instead, Ole Miss blew a 9-3 lead in the eighth inning as closer Jake Morgan couldn’t get anybody out and allowed all six runs off five hits.

Former Vicksburg standout Jordan Henry, who was named to the All-Oxford Regional team as the center fielder, said he felt the Rebels would come back.

“We flushed that game. We’re over it,” Henry said after the Sunday loss.

Henry comes into the Super Regional as a key concern for Virginia. He had five hits in the first three regional games and is batting .342 with a team best 35 stolen bases.

The Cavaliers, however, have one of the hottest pitching staffs in nation. The unit has a sparkling team earned run average of 3.19 and have allowed only a .235 opposing batting average.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com