Ole Miss opened their postseason journey on Friday night as they welcomed Murray State to Swayze Field for the opening round of the 2025 Oxford Regional. Ole Miss and Murray State, a rematch of an early March instant classic where the Rebels escaped Murray State with an extra inning 8-7 win.

Ole Miss came into the Oxford Regional riding high after a run in Hoover at the SEC Tournament, where the Rebels won three games before losing to Vanderbilt on Sunday in the SEC Championship game. On the other hand, Murray State traveled to Oxford, riding high after winning the Missouri Valley Tournament Championship and earning a trip to their first Regional since 2003.

Coach Bianco and his staff decided on Thursday that Riley Maddox would get the start over Hunter Elliott on Friday night, saving Elliott for the potential matchup with Georgia Tech on Saturday afternoon. For Murray State, Coach Skirka decided to go with Nic Schutte, their Friday night ace. Riley Maddox would be the first pitcher replaced when Coach Bianco turned to Mason Morris in the top half of the 4th inning. Maddox finished his day with three completed innings, giving up six hits on four runs while striking out two Murray State batters. Nic Shutte delivered Murray State with 6.1 innings while giving up five hits and six runs while striking out nine Ole Miss batters.

Murray State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top half of the 1st inning, capped off by a solo shot from Jonathan Hogart to open the game. Judd Utermark would drill a three-run shot in the bottom of the third inning to cut into the Murray State lead, making it 4-3. Campbell Smithwick would follow the three-run shot from Judd with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the 4th inning before a base hit from Luke Hill extended the Ole Miss lead to 5-4 in the bottom of the 4th inning. Murray State would respond with a run in the 5th and another in the 6th to retake a 6-5 lead over Ole Miss. Ole Miss would add a sixth run in the bottom of the 7th before Murray State retook the lead in the 8th to make it 7-6. Murray State would add two more insurance runs in the ninth inning to secure a 9-6 victory over Ole Miss on Friday night.

Ole Miss will now face Western Kentucky in an elimination game on Saturday afternoon at 1:00.

With the win, Murray State advances to face Georgia Tech on Saturday evening at 5:00 with a spot in the Regional Championship on the line.

Cover photo credits – David Eaton ( Murray State Athletics)