With a spirited crowd of young fans in attendance for Ole Miss’s annual Kids Day showdown, the Rebels emerged victorious with a final score of 7-4 over Little Rock, improving their record to 20-10 overall and 3-6 in SEC play.
Early Action: Little Rock Takes the Lead
Little Rock struck first, taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. After a leadoff walk issued by Rebels starter Grayson Gibson, the Trojans capitalized on their opportunity two batters later when they pushed across a run.
However, Ole Miss quickly responded. Judd Utermark led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run that tied the game at one apiece. Utermark’s impressive season continued as he notched his twelfth home run.
“A good day at the plate for Judd,” remarked Coach Mike Bianco, praising Utermark’s contributions.
Trojans Extend Their Lead
The second inning saw Little Rock regain control as they launched back-to-back solo home runs from Cooper Chaplain and Cade Martin, extending their lead to 3-1. Gibson struggled through two innings of work, allowing three runs on four hits, but managed to strike out one batter before being relieved.
Rebels Rally Back
In response to their early deficit, Coach Bianco called upon Terry Hayes Jr., who entered in the third inning and delivered an impressive performance. Hayes pitched two scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and recording two strikeouts.
As momentum shifted toward Ole Miss, Noah Allen came out of the bullpen in the fifth inning and maintained that momentum by silencing Little Rock’s bats with no runs allowed over his outing. Allen’s efforts earned him the win for this contest.
“Noah did a good job on the mound,” Bianco said after praising Allen’s performance.
A Five-Run Fifth Inning
The pivotal moment came during a thrilling fifth inning where Ole Miss erupted for three runs. The Rebels loaded the bases thanks to three consecutive walks issued by Trojan pitchers. First baseman Will Furniss then stepped up to deliver a clutch bases-clearing double that shifted momentum firmly into Ole Miss’ favor. Furniss had an outstanding day at bat, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
The Rebels weren’t done yet; Collin Reuter added another insurance run later in that same inning with a solo home run that pushed Ole Miss ahead 5-3.
Tight Finish
Despite trailing, Little Rock refused to go quietly into the night. In the eighth inning, they pulled closer when pinch hitter Blake Simpson scored on an RBI single. This prompted Bianco to bring Landon Koenig into relief duty; Koenig faced some challenges but managed to limit further damage by closing out that frame despite giving up another run on three hits.
With time winding down in regulation, Landon Waters entered as closer for Ole Miss and successfully navigated through 1.1 innings without allowing any additional runs while securing his save of the season.
In addition to sealing their victory late in the game, Ole Miss tacked on two more runs during their half of the eighth due to a wild pitch and an error from Little Rock’s defense—capping off what turned out to be an exciting afternoon of baseball for all attendees.
Looking Ahead: SEC Action Awaits
Ole Miss now shifts its focus back onto conference play as they prepare for an important series against the Florida Gators this weekend. The series will begin earlier than usual due to Easter Sunday celebrations; first pitch is scheduled for Thursday at 5:30 p.m. CT and will be available for streaming on SEC Network+.
