By: Jeff Byrd
Overcoming one of the worst defensive innings of the season, the 17th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels made a shocking comeback to beat fifth ranked and Southeastern Conference leader Georgia 10-8 on a sun-splash Saturday at Swayze Field.
Five home runs that produced all 10 runs were the key. It was Dom Decker’s three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth that turned an 8-7 deficit for the Rebels into a stunning 10-8 lead. It proved the game winner as the Rebs made some fine defensive plays in the top of the ninth.
Ole Miss, goes to 31-12 overall, and 11-8 in the SEC with the win. The Rebels have won 12 of its last 14 games after being swept four weeks ago by rival Mississippi State at Swayze.
Georgia (32-11, 13-6, SEC) came in leading the nation with an incredible 116 home runs and in slugging percentage. The Bulldogs did not get a single one Saturday.
Three Ole Miss relievers helped keep Georgia scoreless after it built an 8-0 lead following a six-run top of the fourth. Brandon’s Walker Hooks finished off the five scoreless innings with the save. He needed some help though.
With two Bulldogs on and one out, shortstop Owen Paino beat out a Georgia pinch-runner to second base. The close play survived a replay, one of two the Rebs won on the day.
Finally, came a brilliant running catch by Hayden Federico, who had moved over from center to left. Federico rolled over on his shoulder, but when he came up, he raised his glove, sealing the final out and, perhaps, Ole Miss’ biggest win of the season. It was the Rebs biggest comeback win, down eight runs, since 2021.
Georgia built an 8-0 lead, getting two in the first and then six more in the fourth inning as the Rebels suffered through some defensive mishaps, causing an early exit for ace Hunter Elliott.
Georgia was helped by Decker, at second, who did not get over to cover a bunt from O’Ryan Wynn. That led to two runs and a 4-0 hole following a 2-run hit by Kolby Branch.
Four more runs made it in off a second hit-batter by Elliott, two miss-played balls in left and a too late jump by Federico.
Landon Waters shut the door to keep it at 8-0 thanks to Decker who got to a diving quail, making the catch on his butt.
Ole Miss catcher Austin Fawley started the comeback with a grand slam to right. Three Rebs had reached on walks before the slam to cut the Bulldog lead to 8-4.
In the Rebel seventh, Decker make it 8-5 with his first home run of the day.
Landon Koenig worked two scoreless innings after Waters and would get the win, but going to the bottom of the eighth, Ole Miss was still down three.
Will Furniss made it 8-6 on a solo home run off Georgia reliever Caden Aoki, the third he had given up in his 2-plus innings of work.
Federico then blasted a home to left to cut it to 8-7. With one out, Georgia went to closer Justin Byrd.
Pinch-hitter Brayden Randle singled. Topher Jones extended the rally with his second hit.
That brought up Decker who blasted his second homer in two straight at-bats to a beer shower in right, scoring three and a 10-8 lead.
Decker’s two blasts and four RBIs were joined by Fawley’s four. Furniss had two hits and two runs scored. Rylan Lugo had two doubles for Georgia while Daniel Jackson had three hits but no home runs.
Game two of the SEC twin-bill is set to begin afterwards.