By Jeff Byrd
It was on a Sunday in June in 2022 when Ole Miss left-handed pitcher Hunter Elliott experienced his greatest triumph in a Rebel uniform, starting and leading his team to a series clinching win in the College World Series against Oklahoma.
On Sunday, Elliott was back on the mound in Omaha for the 2026 CWS. The foe was different and the situation, a first elimination game, was too. And so was the end result, a 12-8 loss to Troy that ended Ole Miss’ 2026 post-season run.
Still, it was a good end to a fine career in Ole Miss red and blue for the Tupelo product.
In 2022, he left with a national championship title and a ring. After batting two-injury proned years, Elliott bounced back with a strong junior campaign in 2025 with a 10-3 record, a 2.94 earned run average, 102 strikeouts in 85.2 innings pitched.
The senior season in 2026, was harder for Elliott, though, at least on the mound. He was just 5-3 this season and a much higher ERA at 5.46, but a higher number of Ks at 111. He acknowledged as much in his last post-game press conference in Omaha Sunday.
“It was a special season, but I will remember how hard it was for us,” Elliott said. “We had a tough schedule. We had some tough road trips and some really tough games.”
Then Elliott turned the page and expressed how rewarding the season was.
“This year I became more of a leader. There was a lot more off-the field things for me to do.”
Through four innings Sunday, it appeared Elliott was moving the Rebels to hang around and be a factor in the 2026 World Series.
Elliott had gotten out of a two-runner jam in the fourth and took a 4-2 lead after four innings of work. He got two more runs from a two-run homer from Collin Reuter to make it 6-2.
With two on and two out, he was a pitch a way from getting out of another jam. Then he stepped off the mound, because he couldn’t hear a call from the little plug in his ear from the dugout. A balk was called. From then on, Troy grabbed the momentum and scored seven unanswered runs and 10 of the next 11 to take control of the game.
“It is what it is,” Elliott said of the balk call that handed Troy a run. “I should have focused on the next pitch. I gave up a hit, and that’s what I’ll take from it.”
Next up for Elliott is the Major League Draft. He’ll be considered a later round pick. MLB teams would be wise to consider how good he was in 2025 with the 10-3 mark.
For Ole Miss, he will go down as one of the greats, ranking with Stephen Head, Lance Lynn and Drew Pomenranz. He finished Ole Miss with a 21-10 record, three 100-plus strikeout seasons (a record), and a 3.86 ERA.