Ole Miss advances to College World Series with late home runs in super regional
Ole Miss is headed to the College World Series for the third time during Mike Bianco’s tenure as head coach. The Rebels swept both the Lincoln Regional and Auburn Super Regional, earning their first national championship appearance since 2022, a title they previously won.
On Saturday, Ole Miss (41-21) defeated Auburn (42-22) 5-3 at Plainsman Park, overcoming a late-game challenge. The Rebels relied on back-to-back home runs and solid pitching to secure the victory, eliminating the Tigers at their home stadium.
Senior Will Furniss, who entered the bottom of the eighth 0-8 at the plate, delivered a pivotal two-run homer that broke a 2-2 tie. His teammate, Judd Utermark, followed with a solo shot, putting Ole Miss ahead 4-2. The Rebels added a fifth run in the inning on a home run by Tristan Bissetta.
Closer Walker Hooks finished the game, working through a tense ninth inning that included a hit batter, a wild pitch, and a line drive to right field. Hooks struck out the final batter to clinch the win and secure the team’s spot in Omaha, their third appearance under Bianco.
The game featured a slow start for Ole Miss, which struggled offensively early against Auburn ace Alex Petrovic. The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning before the Rebels tied it in the sixth. Pitcher Taylor Rabe kept Ole Miss competitive, striking out eight over seven innings and allowing only two runs.
Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco praised veteran leadership for the team’s success. He highlighted players like Judd Utermark and Will Furniss, who stuck with the program through challenging seasons and became leaders on this run to Omaha.
The super regional set attendance records at Plainsman Park, with more than 10,600 fans filling the stadium and additional spectators watching from nearby parking garages and fan zones. The College World Series will run from June 12 to 22 in Omaha, Nebraska, with Ole Miss set to face the winner of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, currently tied 1-1 between North Carolina and USC.
Source: Original Article
