Ole Miss Baseball run-rules No. 15 Clemson behind explosive offense

ARLINGTON, Texas — After dropping game two at Globe Life Field, Ole Miss baseball responded by routing No. 15 Clemson, 15-5, behind a relentless offensive performance and shutdown relief work out of the bullpen.

We round out our stay in Arlington with a run-rule victory over No. 15 Clemson!

See you in Oxford!#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/wjIgwyM7th

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 16, 2025

Following the game, Rebel head coach Mike Bianco talked about his takeaways from the weekend and praised his team for responding in game three.

~ Bianco after the win

Game Recap

Clemson right-hander Justin LeGuernic started for the Tigers, but the Rebel lineup jumped on him right away as a single from freshman Hayden Federico in the leadoff spot and a walk drawn by Luke Hill put two on and nobody out for Ole Miss.

After the first out of the inning, transfer outfielder Ryan Moerman launched the first Ole Miss home run of the day into the left field seats, a three-run shot that gave the Rebels an early 3-0 lead with still just one down in the top of the first. Isaac Humphrey would single in the inning as well, but LeGuernic was able to limit the damage and end the inning with the Tigers up to bat.

Ryan Moerman BOMBS AWAY 💣@MoermanRyan x #HottyTody pic.twitter.com/POe28EkaoO

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 16, 2025

Senior Mason Nichols got the Sunday start for Ole Miss, picking up his first strikeout of the year as he sat down Clemson in order to send it to the second inning. In the top of the second, the Rebel bats picked up right where they left off.

Mitchell Sanford led off the inning and BYU transfer Collin Reuter singled to into left, setting up another transfer in shortstop Luke Cheng for a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and mark the first out. Federico then grounded out to the pitcher, scoring Sanford and advancing Reuter to third.

With two down and leading 4-0, Hill tripled down the line to add another run for Ole Miss and Judd Utermark demolished a pitch to deep left field in the next at-bat to make it a 7-0 Rebel lead through two innings at the plate. The blast by Utermark forced Clemson to make a change on the bump, bringing in lefty Jacob McGovern.

🚀🚀🚀@JuddUtermark x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/vE6TLlxAOu

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 16, 2025

Nichols gave up his first hit in the bottom of the second as Clemson third baseman Josh Paino singled to lead off the inning. The Ole Miss starter did put another runner on in the inning, but a double play turned by Cheng and Hill ended another scoreless frame for the Tigers.

McGovern limited the Rebels in the top of the third, walking a batter but posting the first scoreless frame of the game for the Ole Miss bats. In the bottom half of the third, the Tigers began to get after Nichols with a double off the bat of Jarren Purify to lead off the frame. After a ground out, Purify advanced to third and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dominic Listi scored the first Clemson run.

With two down and Nichols still in for Ole Miss, the Tigers collected another run before the end of the frame as Paino singled with two on to make it a 7-2 deficit after three played. Right-hander Luke Brown began the top of the fourth for the Tigers on the mound.

Brown walked Cheng to begin the frame, and a single for Federico put two on for Hill with no outs. Hill lined the second pitch he saw into the right field seats, watching it go as he sprinted down the first base line. Utermark would reach on a hit by pitch in the next at-bat, but the Ole Miss lineup stranded a runner to end the frame leading 10-2 after Clemson made the change to Nathan Dvorsky.

LUKE HILL’S TURN TO GO YARD💣

Watch the action now on @FloCollege➡️ https://t.co/kpEqaRQc0Y@Luke_Hill22 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/MU5bhDNx1l

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 16, 2025

Nichols trotted back out for the bottom of the fourth for the Rebels, but a single to begin the inning for the Tigers forced a call to the bullpen. Junior lefty Ryne Rodriguez came into the game and punched out the first Clemson batter he faced, but a walk and a pair of singles for the Tigers cut the deficit to 10-4.

Nichols finished with three innings of work, allowed five hits, gave up three runs and picked up a pair of strikeouts.

Ole Miss would make another change on the mound, sending junior transfer Will McCausland out to get a punched out and a line out to end the scoring for Clemson.

BJ Bailey took over for Dvorsky on the mound in the top of the fifth, allowing a single off the bat of Reuter and hitting Cheng with a pitch before posting just the second scoreless frame for Ole Miss. McCausland continued into the bottom half of the frame for the Rebels, picking up a strikeout and sitting Clemson down in order.

Hill led off the top of the sixth for Ole Miss and he stayed hot, launching his second home run of the game into the left field seats to make it an 11-4 Rebel lead. Bailey allowed a single off the bat of Moerman in the frame but allowed just the one run to score.

ANOTHER ONE‼️

Watch the action now on @FloCollege ➡️ https://t.co/kpEqaRQc0Y@Luke_Hill22 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/A5cTaVnO9e

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 16, 2025

Launching a pair of home runs, Hill went 5-for-9 on the weekend with six runs batted in. The Ole Miss infielder commented on his approach after a 3-for-3 day at the plate with two walks.

~ Hill after the win

McCausland continued into the bottom of the sixth for the Rebels. The junior righty punched out the first two Clemson batters in the frame, but a double off the bat of Andrew Ciufo and a walk drawn by Listi was enough to disrupt McCausland’s rhythm. A pair of wild pitches allowed Ciufo to score before the Ole Miss reliever ended the frame with 11-5 lead.

Jackson Cole took over on the mound for Clemson to begin the top of the seventh. However, a walk drawn by Austin Fawley, a single by Sanford and another walk for Reuter forced the Tigers to go to Dion Brown out of pen.

With the bases loaded, Cheng lifted a sacrifice fly to the warning track, scoring Fawley. Federico doubled down the right field line shortly after, scoring Sandford and adding two more runs Ole Miss with just one down. A pair of wild pitches from Brown then scored Reuter and Federico to make it a 15-5 deficit for the Tigers.

Three-hit day for Fed 💪

Watch the action now on @FloCollege ➡️ https://t.co/kpEqaRQc0Y@haydenfederico3 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/fQfYa4Az4j

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 16, 2025

Chayce Kieck replaced Brown after the wild pitches and picked up the final two outs to give Clemson a chance to prevent the run-rule loss. However, McCausland came back out for Ole Miss in the bottom of the seventh, and despite giving up a pair of singles, the righty struck out the side to secure the run-rule win for the Rebels.

McCausland was credited for the win, finishing with 3.1 innings of work, giving up three hits, one run and punching out eight. Following the game, the Ole Miss righty talked about his mentality and what was working for him.

~ McCausland after the win

Up next

After leaving the Shriners Children’s College Showdown with two wins, the Rebels will return home to Oxford for the home opener at Swayze Field. On Tuesday, Feb. 18, Ole Miss will the Arkansas State Red Wolves. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT and will be televised on the SEC Network+.