Michael Hyle used three words to describe the Georgia baseball team’s series against Ole Miss this weekend: “This is huge.”

“Based on our record in the SEC, this is a huge series,” Hyle added. “We still have a lot of games to play, but (we) also don’t want to lose any more ground.”

With Georgia fourth in the SEC east at 6-9 and trailing division leader Tennessee by three games, Hyle feels the Bulldogs can climb into the fight for a division title if they can win the series against the Rebels.

“If we come out here and take care of business this weekend,” Hyle said, “it will definitely be a springboard and get us rolling.”

To get back into the fray, Georgia first must get past an Ole Miss team that is No. 6 in the nation and leading the charge for an SEC west title.

But head coach David Perno said he believes his players are beginning to convince themselves they can compete with anyone.

“The only thing that changes from week to week in our league are the names and the colors of the uniforms,” Perno said.

In the cardinal red and navy blue Rebel uniforms of Ole Miss (31-8, 11-5), sophomore infielder and pitcher Stephen Head leads the lineup.

Head is hitting .382 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs.

Besides his production at the plate, Head (5-1, 2.81 ERA) is part of a pitching staff that ranks third in the SEC with a 3.27 ERA.

Sophomores Mark Holliman and Brae Wright lead the way as starters for Ole Miss.

Holliman is 6-0 with a 2.21 ERA while Wright has posted a record of 6-1 with a 2.61 ERA.

While Perno said he realizes the strength of the Rebel pitching staff, he said he feels the Georgia lineup will stack up well over the weekend.

“It’s obviously a great challenge,” Perno said, “but I think we’re capable.”

Perno said he will make some lineup changes for the series, moving freshman Jason Jacobs to designated hitter, freshman Josh Morris to fourth and junior Clint Sammons to sixth in the order.

Morris leads Georgia in home runs with 13 as well as RBIs with 49. Freshman Joey Side leads the lineup in hitting at .357.

On the hill, Perno has flipped the normal number one and number three starters.

Junior Sean Ruthven (3-1, 3.58 ERA) will start tonight while senior Paul Lubrano (3-3, 4.27 ERA) will take the hill Sunday.

“Ruthven got the brunt end of Friday nights last year,” Perno said. “He’s pitched very well in that scene.”

Hyle, who is 3-1 this year, will start for Georgia on Sunday.

“Ultimately, it’s not going to matter who throws what day,” Perno said. “We’ve got to take care of business Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”

First pitch tonight is at 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on CSS-TV.