Ole Miss advances to College World Series after 6-4 win over Auburn in super regional
Ole Miss is one win away from reaching the College World Series for the first time since 2022, when the Rebels claimed the national title, according to team sources. The Rebels (40-21) continued their postseason run with a 6-4 win over Auburn in the super regional Friday night at Auburn, drawing a record crowd of 10,627.
Ole Miss used its power at the plate to secure the victory. Judd Utermark hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, and Collin Reuter added a two-run shot in the sixth. Brayden Randle contributed two hits and two RBIs, including two timely singles with two outs. Randle, making his first outfield appearance since age 14, said he approached his at-bats with a team-first mentality, according to team reports.
Auburn (42-21) responded with runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The Tigers threatened early, loading the bases in the second and third innings, but Ole Miss pitcher Hunter Elliott kept Auburn from capitalizing. Elliott was pulled in the fifth after a leadoff walk led to a run, but reliever Hudson Calhoun escaped a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and a flyout, a move Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco called a turning point.
Calhoun held Auburn scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. Closer Walker Hooks finished the game, striking out two in two scoreless innings to earn his eighth save. Ole Miss pitcher Calhoun (5-3) earned the win, allowing one run on two hits over 2.2 innings and striking out three.
Auburn’s Mason McCraine led the Tigers offensively with three hits, including a solo home run in the ninth inning, and two RBIs. Auburn’s Chase Fralick, the team’s postseason leader in batting, was hitless but reached base once via hit-by-pitch. Auburn pitcher Andreas Alvarez (10-4) took the loss, surrendering five earned runs and striking out 10 in 5.2 innings.
Ole Miss and Auburn will face off again Saturday at 4 p.m., with the game broadcast on ESPN and SuperTalk Mississippi stations, according to the teams’ schedules.
Source: Original Article
