Ole Miss’ College World Series Run Ends with 12-8 Loss to Troy

Ole Miss’ postseason journey came to an end Sunday as Troy’s offense proved too much to contain in a 12-8 victory over the Rebels at the College World Series.

The Rebels collected 12 hits and hit a pair of home runs from the bottom of their lineup, but Troy’s late offensive surge erased multiple Ole Miss leads and sent the Trojans to the win.

“It always hurts to finish the season because everyone loses their last game except for the team that wins the national championship,” said head coach Mike Bianco. 

“When you lose, it stings and right now, it really stings. Very disappointed at the ending, but super proud of this team and what it’s accomplished.”

Ole Miss finished the season 41-23 after making the program’s seventh College World Series appearance and the third Omaha trip under Bianco.

The Rebels jumped on Troy early. Dom Decker opened the bottom of the first by reaching second on a two-base error before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Judd Utermark followed with an RBI single to left field, giving Ole Miss a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Hayden Federico lined a double down the left-field line to score Tristan Bissetta and push the advantage to 2-0.

Troy answered immediately in the second inning, tying the game on a two-run home run to right-center field. Ole Miss responded in the bottom half of the frame when Brayden Randle launched a two-run homer, his fourth of the season, to restore a 4-2 lead. The Rebels added to their advantage in the fourth inning behind another home run from the bottom of the order. Collin Reuter connected on a two-run shot, his eighth of the season, to make it 6-2. 

Hunter Elliott gave Ole Miss a strong start on the mound, striking out nine batters over 4.2 innings. The left-hander allowed five runs on five hits while walking four. Troy began chipping away in the fifth inning. A bases-loaded balk brought home a run before a two-run single through the left side cut the Rebels’ lead to 6-5 and ended Elliott’s outing.

The game turned in the seventh. After a leadoff home run tied the score at 6-6, Troy put together three more hits and scored three additional runs to seize a 9-6 advantage. Austin Fawley drove in a run in the bottom of the inning to trim the deficit to 9-7, but the Trojans answered again in the eighth with three more runs to create separation.

Will Furniss provided one final highlight for Ole Miss with his ninth home run of the season in the eighth inning, but the Rebels could get no closer. JP Robertson was charged with the loss after allowing two earned runs in 1.2 innings of relief.

Fawley, Randle and Reuter led the offense from the bottom third of the lineup, combining to go 6-for-14 with two home runs and five RBIs. Federico added two hits and an RBI as Ole Miss finished with eight runs on 12 hits.

Despite the disappointing ending, the Rebels’ return to Omaha capped another memorable postseason run and added another chapter to one of the most successful eras in program history.