KNOVILLE, Tenn. — No. 25 Ole Miss Baseball (28-11, 9-7 SEC) opened their series against Tennessee with a 7-4 victory Friday night. The Rebels hit three home runs and received a solid six-inning effort from starter Hunter Elliott.
Elliott, now 4-1, allowed three runs on seven hits, striking out five while issuing only one walk. He induced double plays in the fifth and sixth innings and was lifted after 87 pitches. Hudson Calhoun pitched the seventh, giving up a two-run homer but finishing the game without further damage. Walker Hooks earned his third save, retiring all three batters he faced.
Hayden Federico led Ole Miss at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and hitting his first home run of the season. Tristan Bissetta and Judd Utermark also homered, helping the Rebels build an early lead. Tennessee scored first on a solo shot by Reese Chapman in the first inning, but Ole Miss responded quickly with Federico’s homer in the second.
The Rebels extended their lead with back-to-back solo homers from Bissetta and Utermark in the third and added two more runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Tennessee scored twice in the seventh but could not catch the Rebels. The series continues Saturday with a game scheduled for 3 p.m. CT, moved up due to weather concerns.
Ole Miss improved to 28-11 overall and 9-7 in SEC play. The team looks to secure the series win in Knoxville on Saturday, according to university athletics officials.
