No. 13 Ole Miss Powers Past No. 3 Arkansas, 10-6, to Open SEC Play
OXFORD, Miss. – No. 13 Ole Miss used strong pitching and timely hitting to defeat No. 3 Arkansas 10-6 on Friday, opening SEC play with a statement win.
Game 1 to the Rebs! pic.twitter.com/rKVmGwW3DO
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2025
Following the game, head coach Mike Bianco talked about how it was a hard day to pitch, but a great day to swing the bat.
“You can feel the wind here, you can see the flag (moving), a tough day to pitch. The park played real small today…we were able to score in the first six innings and when you do that, you’re going to have a lot of success in this league.”
~ Bianco after the win
Game Recap
Hunter Elliott trotted out for his usual Friday start for the Rebels, walking a batter in the top of the first before a double play got the lefty out of the frame unscathed.
The Ole Miss bats wasted no time getting after Razorback starter Zach Root as freshman Hayden Federico launched a solo shot into the left field seats on the first pitch he saw. With two down, Mitchell Sanford drew a walk which allowed Judd Utermark‘s double into center to score another run before the bases were stranded loaded.
The freshman NUKES his first SEC pitch @haydenfederico3 🤯 pic.twitter.com/V8qrexGTky
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2025
Leading 2-0 after one played, the Rebels looked to keep Arkansas off the scoreboard once again. However, a pair of singles and a hit batter allowed the Razorbacks to plate a run before Elliott could retire the side.
The Rebels picked up right where they left off as Luke Cheng doubled into right-center field, eventually moving over to third after a ground out. Luke Hill then singled, scoring Cheng, and a high pop up off the bat of Sanford fell into no man’s land out in left field to make it 4-1 Ole Miss after two played.
Trading blows once again, the Razorbacks plated another run off of Elliott after a single and a wild pitch put the runner in scoring position. Although, the Rebels got the run right back in the bottom half of the third as Cheng picked up his second hit of the day. Ole Miss made it a 5-2 lead with a pair of runners still on but Root stood tall and retired the side for Arkansas.
Once again the Razorbacks jumped on Elliott in a hurry as the lefty gave up a single to leadoff the fourth. However, an infield pop up and back-to-back strikeouts for Elliott marked the first scoreless frame for the Arkansas bats since the first inning.
Ryan Moerman led off the bottom of the fourth with a double down the left field line after working the count, bringing Sanford to the plate. The Rebel outfielder then launched one the opposite way over the wall into left for a two-run shot that made it a 7-2 Rebel lead.
Mitchell Sanford says bye-bye, ball 👋 pic.twitter.com/K1Fc4vSFCM
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2025
After the win, Sanford credited the hot bats to the week of preparation leading up to SEC play.
“I think we did a really good job yesterday preparing, this morning (as well) with film. This (Ole Miss) lineup is good. Really talented and feel like we have a bunch of left and right-handed hitters that we can plug in.”
~ Sanford on the success at the plate for Ole Miss
The Razorbacks made a change on the mound after the home run, replacing Root with right-hander Dylan Carter. The Arkansas reliever then picked up a pair of strikeouts as he retired the side with no more damage done.
Elliott came back out for the fifth, picking up a pair of punch outs on his way to sitting the Razorbacks down in order. The Ole Miss starter’s day would end there after posting back-to-back scoreless frames. Elliott finished with five innings of work, gave up five hits, two runs, walked one, and punched out eight.
All eight of @elliotthunter10‘s Ks vs. Arkansas?
All eight of @elliotthunter10‘s Ks vs. Arkansas. pic.twitter.com/iGZNInTzm0
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2025
Similar to Bianco, Elliott commented on how a windy day made it tough on pitchers. The lefty was also credited with the win in game one, his fourth of the season (4-0).
“The wind is just howling out, great weather, the ball was going to fly. But I had a lot working, the best thing I had working was control over the heater. I have a really good fastball and when I through it at the top of the zone it is hard to hit.”
~ Elliott on his game one performance
Isaac Humphrey led off the bottom half of the fifth with a screaming double off the right field fence. Cheng then attempted a bunt to move him over, but the Ole Mis shortstop was hit with a pitch in the side of the helmet. Owen Paino replaced Cheng at first base after the senior walked off under his own power.
After a successful sacrifice bunt by Federico moved the runners up, Hill launched a ball into center field that was deep enough to score Humphrey. Moerman walked in the next at-bat, forcing Arkansas to replace Carter with righty Tate McGuire. However, Sanford then followed up with a single back through the middle of the infield that made it 9-2 Ole Miss after five played.
Mason Morris came down from the bullpen to replace Elliott at the start of the sixth, however, the Razorbacks quickly loaded the bases with a walk and a pair of singles. A sacrifice fly and a pinch hit single for Arkansas plated a pair of runs before Morris could retire the side, cutting the Rebel lead to 9-4.
McGuire walked the leadoff man for the Rebels in the bottom of the sixth and Austin Fawley doubled off the wall in the next at-bat to put runners on second and third. Humphrey then singled into left, making a 10-4 Ole Miss lead before McGuire retired the side.
The seventh inning was rather quick compared to the rest of the game. Morris gave up a solo shot to Logan Maxwell, but punched out three Arkansas batters to keep the Rebels in front 10-5. Ben Bybee then replaced McGuire heading into the bottom of the inning and posted a zero on the home half of the scoreboard for the first time in the game.
Similar to the previous inning, Morris made quick work of the Razorback lineup, sitting them down in order. Humphrey drew a walk for Ole Miss in the bottom half of the inning but Bybee retired the side to strand the runner.
After picking up his sixth strikeout of the day to begin the ninth, Morris gave up a solo shot to Charles Davalan that made it a 10-6 Ole Miss lead. Connor Spencer then came down from the bullpen to replace him, picking up the final two outs in the next three at-bats to secure the Rebels’ win.
Up next
Despite storm forecasts across North Mississippi on Saturday, Ole Miss is set to face Arkansas at 1:30 p.m. CT in Game 2 of the series. The game will be televised on the SEC Network+.
Kameron Wicker
Kam is a senior at Ole Miss, currently pursuing a degree in Journalism. Even though he's from Delhi, Louisiana, that didn't stop Kam from growing up a diehard Ole Miss fan. He's a sports guru who watches and follows all sports at all times. He lettered four years in football and baseball in high school and is an avid Saints, Pelicans, and Astros fan. In his free time, you can find him watching sports or at the rec participating in them.
