No. 6 Ole Miss Falls in Rubber Game to No. 5 Tennessee, 10-8, in Back-and-Forth Series Finale

OXFORD, Miss. — The No. 6-ranked Ole Miss Rebels clawed back from a four-run deficit to tie it up in game three, but No. 5 Tennessee delivered the final blow with a two-run home run in the ninth to escape Oxford with a 10-8 win and clinch the series.

Game Recap

Sunday starter Mason Nichols was immediately put into a high leverage situation after recording the first out of the game, loading the bases with back-to-back walks issued after an error put the first Tennessee runner on. A sacrifice fly to the warning track plated the first run of the day to give the Volunteers a lead, but the Ole Miss righty ended the frame with just the one unearned run given up.

Luke Hill reached on a throwing error by the Tennessee third baseman in the bottom of the first to give the Rebels their first base runner, but Volunteer starter Teagan Kuhns retired the side shortly after to hold onto the one-run lead.

Nichols looked more settled in after a rough opening frame, cruising through the top of the second and posting a zero for the Tennessee bats. Ryan Moerman reached on the second error of the day by the Volunteers to lead off the bottom of the second; and it was Austin Fawley with two outs launching his third home run of the weekend into the left field seats. The two-run shot gave Ole Miss a 2-1 lead after two innings.

THIRD homer of the weekend for @fawley_austin! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nw8cUWt9cm

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 13, 2025

In the top of the third, Nichols gave up a home run to former Ole Miss Rebel Andrew Fischer. The solo shot tied the game at 2-2 but the Ole Miss starter limited the damage and retired the side.

Kuhns recorded two quick outs in the bottom half of the third, but the Rebel lineup began to rally thanks to a single through the shift for Isaac Humphrey. The Ole Miss outfielder then swiped second base and advanced to third after a throwing error. First baseman Will Furniss singled through the middle of the infield shortly after, giving the Rebels a 3-2 lead.

Furn puts us back on top!@WillFurniss x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/OmrXqfLmx3

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 13, 2025

An infield single off the bat of Moerman kept the inning alive and forced Tennessee to replace Kuhns on the mound with another freshman, Brayden Krenzel. Mitchell Sanford finally broke through and picked up his first hit of the weekend after the pitching change, but Furniss was gunned down at home to end the inning.

Both Nichols and Krenzel coasted through the fourth inning; the Tennessee freshman retired the Ole Miss bats in order for the first time today. Hudson Calhoun replaced Nichols at the top of the fifth, marking his first appearance of the series.

Calhoun picked up two outs but walked a pair before being replaced by Walker Hooks with runners on the corners for the Tennessee offense. The freshman reliever got a ground ball to second two pitches into his appearance, and once again the Rebels got out a jam to hold onto the lead.

The Ole Miss offense stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of the fifth, although still hung onto a 3-2 lead. However, the Volunteers broke the game open in the top of the sixth with Hooks still on the mound for the Rebels. A single to lead off the frame and a home run to follow by Cannon Peebles put Tennessee back in front 4-3.

Hooks walked the next batter but recorded two outs before giving up a single and a double that gave the Volunteers a 5-3 lead. Taylor Rabe replaced Hooks after the two base knocks, but a wild pitch and another single plated two more runs for Tennessee. Gunnar Dennis took over for Rabe in a hurry, walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, but recorded the final out in a disastrous inning for the Rebels.

Trailing 7-3, the Ole Miss offense was in desperate need of production. Sanford tripled into center to leadoff the frame, and Judd Utermark followed with a much needed double down the left field line to plate the run.

RBI double from @JuddUtermark in the 6th pic.twitter.com/c5OkyzvUe7

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 13, 2025

Tennessee then turned to Dylan Loy out of the bullpen, but he hit Luke Cheng with a pitch which led to Hayden Federico sending one back up the middle to score Utermark. Hill then followed with a fielder’s choice, allowing Cheng to score and make it a 7-6 game just like that after six played.

Stringing ’em together@haydenfederico3 x #HottyToddy https://t.co/bNbH8rk5lR pic.twitter.com/0Qr2iEJNKD

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 13, 2025

For the first time in game three, the Volunteer lineup went down in order as Dennis made quick work of the top of the seventh. Looking to regain control of the game, a Moerman single and a walk drawn by Sanford put two on for the Rebels. Junior righty Nate Snead then replaced Loy, but a wild pitch put runners on second and third with Utermark at the plate.

The Swiss army knife launched a ball high into the air out in right, deep enough to score Moerman. Snead eventually got out of the frame but Ole Miss responded to the five-run inning by Tennessee, tying the game at 7-7 heading into the eighth. Once again, Dennis sat the Volunteers down in order in the top of the eighth.

FIRE. US. UP. 😤@dennis_gunnar x #HottyToddy https://t.co/Grb3o5yrdj pic.twitter.com/y2PZL3t5gB

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 13, 2025

In the bottom of the eighth, Federico singled to second base with one down to put the go-ahead run on base for the Rebels. However, the freshman was gunned down trying to steal second for out number two. Hill then walked and advanced to second thanks to a wild pitch, and Humphrey followed with a reached on error to put runners on the corners for Furniss. Snead hit the back stop with the first pitch to the Ole Miss first baseman and Hill scored from third, giving the Rebels an 8-7 lead heading into the ninth.

REBS LEAD! pic.twitter.com/b4007EfoVM

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 13, 2025

Dennis walked the leadoff man in the top of the ninth and head coach Mike Bianco trotted out to make a call to the bullpen, bringing in Brayden Jones. Reese Chapman then sent a two-run shot into the left field seats, giving the Volunteers a late 9-8 lead with no outs on the board. A pair of singles and a fielder’s choice plated another run for Tennessee, knocking Jones off the mound. Ryne Rodriguez recorded the final out of the frame, but the Rebels trailed 10-8 and were down to their last three outs.

Ole Miss put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth with a chance to tie or win the game, but it was Snead slamming the door and getting ground ball after ground ball to secure the series victory for the Volunteers. Moerman, Federico, Utermark and Sanford all recorded a pair of hits for the Rebels. Jones was credited with the loss after giving up the lead in the top of the ninth.

Up next

The Rebels will be back at Swayze on Tuesday, April 15, for Kid’s Day when they take on the Little Rock Trojans. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT and will be televised on the SEC Network+.