Saturday afternoon at Swayze, the Rebels clinched its series against Missouri State with a decisive 6-3 victory. The star of the game was Austin Fawley, who delivered a clutch three-run double that broke open what had been a tightly contested game.
Fawley Shines in Critical Moment
Fawley’s performance was nothing short of spectacular as he drove in seven runs through the first two games of this series. His pivotal double came during a key inning and significantly contributed to Ole Miss’s lead. With his bat heating up early in the season, Fawley is proving to be an invaluable asset for the Rebels.
Offensive Contributions from Furniss and Bissetta
Alongside Fawley, teammates Will Furniss and Tristan Bissetta also made notable contributions at the plate, each recording two hits during the game. Bissetta continues to impress this season, leading Ole Miss in RBIs with 14—an impressive feat that ranks him among the top players in the SEC.
Strong Pitching from Cade Townsend
Cade Townsend took to the mound for his second start of the season and showcased remarkable skill. Over four innings, he struck out eight batters—tying his career high set just a week prior—and did not allow any runs while limiting Missouri State to only two hits. His performance was crucial in maintaining control of the game early on.
A Game of Momentum Swings
The game began with Judd Utermark reaching base after a walk in the first inning. This allowed Bissetta to drive him home shortly thereafter, putting Ole Miss on board first. For several innings following that initial run, both teams engaged in a pitcher’s duel that kept fans on edge.
Townsend dominated until he surrendered a home run in the fifth inning that tied up the score at one apiece. However, this moment did not deter his momentum; rather, it set up an intense battle between both teams’ pitchers.
Rebels Rally Back
Following some stagnant offense after Missouri State’s tying run, Collin Reuter ignited Ole Miss’s bats again with a deep double to right center field. Furniss then singled before Cannon Goldin walked, setting up Fawley’s momentous at-bat where he cleared the bases with another double—pushing Ole Miss ahead 4-1.
As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one inning, Hayden Federico kept things rolling by executing a perfectly timed bunt that resulted in chaos on defense and allowed Fawley to cross home plate once more.
Rabe and Koenig Secure Victory
Relief pitcher Taylor Rabe stepped onto the mound following Townsend’s exit and quickly found his rhythm despite giving up runs later in relief work. He struck out three batters over 3.1 innings before handing off pitching duties to Landon Koenig for closing duties.
Koenig sealed off any hope for Missouri State by striking out both their first and last batters of the ninth inning—earning him his first save as a Rebel while Rabe secured his second win of this young season.
Looking Ahead
With this victory under their belts, Ole Miss stands tall at 7-0 for this season—a feat they haven’t achieved since at least 2012 when it comes to scoring consistently across games. The Rebels will aim to complete their series sweep against Missouri State tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 p.m. CT—a game you won’t want to miss!