In a day of large wins for Ole Miss athletics, with the rifle team winning the small bore national title and men’s basketball taking down two-seed Alabama in the SEC tournament, Coach Bianco and the diamond Rebs were not looking to be left out.
After falling behind by four, the Rebels were able to come back and take a lead in the ninth. In extra innings, they did not give up a run and would go on to win 9-8 over Texas in their opening game of conference play.
Hunter Elliott got the start on the mound for Ole Miss tonight, and began the game by striking out the first six batters he faced. Elliot would pitch the first five innings for the Rebels, giving up 4 earned runs on four hits while striking out eight and walking three.
Ole Miss picked up a base hit in each of the first two innings, thanks to Judd Utermark and Collin Reuter, but were unable to get either of them across to score. The first runs of the game came in the top of the third, the first three Rebels to the plate got on and scored to get the offense going.
The Longhorns responded in short order however, getting all three runs right back off a home run after Elliott walked the first two batters of the inning. They then took the lead in the top of the fourth off a leadoff solo shot to left field.
Hunter Elliott was relieved in the bottom of the sixth inning by Hudson Calhoun. Calhoun, who started off hot by retiring the first six batters he faced in order, would end up walking the first two batters in the eighth and allow Texas to take the lead off their second three-run blast of the day.
With two runners on in the eighth, Owen Kelly came on to pitch for Ole Miss and quickly got a fly out to end the inning.
In the top of the ninth, down by four, the Rebels got hot. After getting the first three batters on via hit-by-pitch and walk, Dom Decker grounded to first which brought Hayden Federico home and cut the Texas lead to three.
With two outs in the inning and the bases loaded, after a Judd Utermark foul-out and Will Furniss walk, Tristan Bissetta was the last hope for Ole Miss to not drop their first conference game. Bissetta delivered, crushing a ball 464-feet to right field for a grand slam to put the Rebels up one in the ninth.
Texas would score a singular run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
With neither team able to score in the tenth, Hayden Federico led off the top of the eleventh being hit by a pitch. The bases were quickly loaded for the Rebels, as Dom Decker would get on base in the same manner as Federico and Judd Utermark would single. An Owen Paino walk would send Federico home for what would end up being the winning run.
Taylor Rabe took the mound for the Rebels in the ninth, going for two innings and giving up one run on four hits with five strikeouts and picking up the victory. Landon Waters closed the game out for Ole Miss in the eleventh, pitching one inning and not giving up a hit while getting the save.
Next Up
The Rebels take on Texas in Austin again tomorrow in game two of the three game series. First pitch is set for 2:30 PM and the game will be streamed on the SEC Network+. Remember to stay here for all things about your Ole Miss Rebels!
