North Carolina tops Ole Miss 6-2 in College World Series opener

OMAHA, Neb. — Ole Miss opened the 2026 College World Series with a 6-2 loss to fifth-seeded North Carolina on Friday night.

The Rebels (41-22) out-hit the Tar Heels (51-12-1) eight to five but struggled with walks and North Carolina’s home runs, which proved decisive.

Ole Miss pitcher Taylor Rabe started and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out seven. Rabe’s seven strikeouts brought his season total to 105, making him one of the first Ole Miss teammates to reach 100 strikeouts since 2022.

Rabe escaped a jam in the second inning after North Carolina loaded the bases with two outs. The Rebels scored first in the third inning when Dom Decker doubled home Brayden Randle, who had led off with a double.

The Tar Heels tied the game in the sixth with a solo home run from Owen Hull. Ole Miss answered back in the seventh, with Decker doubling again and Judd Utermark singling to give the Rebels a 2-1 lead.

North Carolina responded in the bottom half of the seventh, tying the game at two. The Tar Heels then scored three runs in the eighth, including a three-run homer, to secure the win.

Ole Miss will face Troy in an elimination game Sunday at 1 p.m. The Rebels’ season continues, but their opener ended in defeat, as reported by the university’s athletics department.

Source: Original Article