In an unexpected elimination game on Saturday afternoon at Swayze Field, the Ole Miss Rebels, as the road team, faced off against Western Kentucky, with the winner advancing to see another day at the Oxford Regional, where they would face another elimination game on Sunday.

With their backs against the wall, Coach Bianco decided that Hunter Elliott would be the starter on Saturday, while Western Kentucky went with their ace in Jack Bennett. However, Bennet would only last a single inning after allowing six hits, three runs, and only one strikeout. Dawson Hall would come in during the 2nd inning and tasked with the difficult task of long relief. Hall delivered Western Kentucky with three complete innings, giving up three hits, two runs, and only one strikeout. Hunter Elliott delivered on Saturday with six innings, giving up eight hits on three runs with seven strikeouts.

Ole Miss would strike first in the top half of the first inning with a solo shot to the student section in right field, followed by a base hit from Issac Humphrey that scored Luke Hill to make it 2-0 Rebels. Western Kentucky would respond at the bottom of the first innings with two runs of their own off timely hitting. Austin Fawley would get in on the action in the top of the second inning with a solo shot to make it 3-2 Rebels. Western Kentucky off a double from Carlos Vasquez that scored Austin Haller to tie the game at three. Austin Fawley would hit his second home run of the game in the top half of the 4th inning to retake a 4-3 Ole Miss lead. Ole Miss would add another run before the end of the top half of the 4th to make it 5-3 Rebels. Judd Utermark wanted in on the beer shower run with a solo shot in the top half of the 5th to make it 6-3 Rebels. Mitchell Sanford will add to his home run tally with his second of the day in the top half of the 6th with a solo shot to make it 7-3 Rebels. Judd Utermark would open the 7th inning with another solo shot to extend the Ole Miss lead to 8-3 over the Hilltoppers. Western Kentucky would cut into the Ole Miss lead with a Kyle Hayes home run to make it 8-4 in favor of the Rebels.

It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win, and Ole Miss lives to see another day. They’ll have to win two games on Sunday to force a game seven on Monday, but they now have the first one under their belt. Now, the focus shifts to the next game, as it involves not only the daunting task of winning three games in 24 hours but also two on Sunday. As Coach Bianco always says, “Shower well,” the Rebels will need to put this win behind them and focus on doing what they can to keep playing postseason baseball.

With the win over Western Kentucky on Saturday, the Rebels survive to see another day, as they will now play the loser of the Murray State and Georgia Tech game on Sunday at 2:00 in another elimination game. Ole Miss must win one more to reach the Regional Championship game and three more to advance to the Super Regionals.

Photo Credits- Ole Miss Baseball On X