Ole Miss Baseball Advances to College World Series with Win Over Auburn

OLE MISS — The University of Mississippi baseball team secured its spot in the College World Series on Friday night with a 6-4 victory over Auburn in the first game of the Auburn Super Regional. The Rebels, now 40-21, are one win away from reaching Omaha, Nebraska, for the national tournament, under head coach Mike Bianco.

Judd Utermark highlighted Ole Miss’s performance by hitting his 22nd home run of the season, tying his career best and ranking as the second-most in program history. Collin Reuter added a key homer in the sixth inning, helping the Rebels build a significant lead. Four Ole Miss players recorded at least two hits, including Utermark and Brayden Randle, who drove in two runs.

The Rebels started strong with an RBI single from Randle in the second inning. Auburn responded with a run in the third, but Ole Miss pushed ahead with a two-run homer from Utermark in the fifth. Reuter’s homer in the sixth extended the lead to 6-2. Auburn scored twice in the sixth but could not overcome the deficit.

Pitching played a crucial role for Ole Miss, with Hunter Elliott working 4.1 innings and relievers Hudson Calhoun and Walker Hooks closing out the game. Hooks struck out two in the eighth and finished the ninth to secure the win.

The Rebels will face Auburn again Saturday at 4 p.m. CT, with the winner advancing to the College World Series. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

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