CWS Game-Two Preview: A look at the starting pitchers for Ole Miss and Oklahoma

OMAHA — Ole Miss and Oklahoma face off in game two of the College World Series finals today, with the Sooners looking at a must-win game after the Rebels won game one, 10-3, Saturday night. 

OU sent ace Jake Bennett to the mound in game one, while the Rebels countered with Jack Dougherty. The Rebel starter, normally a reliever, pitched five perfect innings before getting into a jam in the six and leaving with a 4-1 lead. 

Mason Nichols came on in relief and gave up no runs in two innings of work, followed by Josh Mallitz who closed it out with two innings of one-run ball. 

Ole Miss broke open the 4-2 game in the eighth inning with three straight home runs as the Rebs cruised to the win that puts them one game away from the first CWS title in school history. 

Here’s a look at the scheduled pitchers for game two:

On the mound for the Sooners: Cade Horton

Oklahoma’s starting pitching and bullpen have been great throughout the tournament. Even in the loss last night, starting pitcher Jake Bennett struck out 10. 

Today, the Sooners will go with freshman right-hander Cade Horton. He is 5-2 with a 5.58 ERA in the regular season but pitched just 40.1 innings as he worked back from Tommy John surgery. 

Horton has made 12 appearances with nine starts and has allowed 46 hits while walking 14 and striking out 40. He has given up 13 extra-base hits, including six home runs.

Again, however, since settling in after returning from injury, Horton has been outstanding. Since he developed a slider a month ago, his ERA is down to 2.66. 

Oklahoma will be fine. They've got Cade Horton on the bump tomorrow, quite possibly the hottest MLB Draft prospect in the country right now. Stock WAY up.

Last 4 starts? 23.2 IP, 36 K, 6 BB, 7 ER… 0.972 WHIP

He will *skyrocket* in our Top 600 update.pic.twitter.com/vJcgF2XDlm

— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) June 26, 2022

The Norman, Oklahoma native has a 98 mph fastball and showed his outstanding slider as he struck out 11 in a 6-2 win against Notre Dame. 

At one point, Horton was committed to the Rebs, but he ultimately signed with his hometown team in the class of 2020. He was injured in 2021, but prior to that had been listed as the No. 2 player in the state. 

Horton’s last outing was last Sunday when the Sooners defeated Notre Dame, 6-2, in game two of the CWS. In that game, he allowed two runs on five hits in six innings of work, striking out 11 and walking just one.

On the mound for Ole Miss: Hunter Elliott

Hunter Elliott is scheduled to start for the Rebels. The freshman phenom was 5-3 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.17 WHIP during the season. 

In Elliot’s last start, he was masterful, allowing just three runs (only one earned) on six hits in 6.1 innings in the Rebels’ 13-5 win against the hot-hitting Arkansas Razorbacks. He threw 100 pitches against the Hogs and is pitching today on five days rest. 

Hunter Elliott’s day is done. What a fantastic performance. Here’s @realbenmcdonald talking about the freshman phenom. #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/EMbtLie74p

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) June 12, 2022

The lefty from Tupelo, Miss. was the No. 4 player in the state of Mississippi. He has notched 11 starts and made 19 appearances on the season. He’s pitched 73.1 innings and has tallied 96 strikeouts, while giving up 54 hits and walking just 32. 

Game info:

First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN.

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)