​No. 6 Ole Miss Responds and Defeats No. 5 Tennessee 8–5, Forces Game Three Rubber Match

OXFORD, Miss. — No. 6 Ole Miss relied on timely hitting and aggressive base running to earn an 8-5 win over No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday, forcing a series-deciding game on Sunday at Swayze field.

Game 2 belongs to the REBS!#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/s4Y6kjjvcl

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

After the win, head coach Mike Bianco talked about the fast start for the Rebel lineup.

“It was probably the difference in the game (the first few innings at the plate). I thought we had some really good at-bats, we were able to steal some bases and put some pressure on them, we got the timely hits, and Riley (Maddox) was able to put some zeros up there after giving up a few.”

~ Bianco after the win

Game Recap

Riley Maddox took the mound for his usual game-two start and recorded a quick first out; however, Gavin Kilen launched a solo shot into the right field seats shortly after to give Tennessee a quick 1-0 lead. Maddox eventually got out of the frame with no more damage done.

In the bottom of the second, Luke Hill and Mitchell Sanford drew one-out walks and eventually stole a few bases to set up runners at second and third. Will Furniss grounded out to short for the second out but scored Hill on the play to tie the game.

Ryan Moerman shortly followed with a double down the left field line, plating the leading run just before Hayden Federico singled up the middle to give Ole Miss a 3-1 lead through one played. The Rebels stole five bases in the first inning alone to help add the early runs.

Moe doubles down the line to give us the early lead!@MoermanRyan x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/UtHTQT4oXR

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 12, 2025

Fed adds to it! 💥@haydenfederico3 x #HottyToddy https://t.co/kdndqLg5RT pic.twitter.com/9Vh8l8m7Aa

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 12, 2025

Maddox gave up his second solo shot of the game in the top of the second; this time it was Levi Clark sending one into the left field seats and cutting the Rebel lead to 3-2. Austin Fawley returned the favor in the bottom of the second, leading off the frame with a solo shot down the left field line that gave Ole Miss a 4-2 lead after two innings.

AUSTIN FAWLEY 😮‍💨@fawley_austin x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/IyDVbdCSP3

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 12, 2025

Kilen singled off of Maddox for his second hit of the day in the top of the third, but the Ole Miss starter settled in and cruised through the next frame for back-to-back scoreless innings for the Tennessee bats. The Volunteer starter Marcus Phillips posted his first three-up-three-down frame of the game in the bottom of the third, but was replaced by Brandon Arvidson in the top of the fourth with one down and a runner on third for Ole Miss.

Federico walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth, eventually advancing to third and picking up his third stolen base of the game. Fawley attempted to lay down a squeeze bunt as Federico fully committed to the plate and a ball in the dirt allowed the Rebels to plate another run, adding an eighth stolen bag for the team. Ole Miss led 5-2 after four played.

Maddox walked the lead off man in the top of the fifth, but continued to look better further into his pitch count as he sat down the next three Volunteer batters to strand the runner. Ryne Rodriguez took over for the Rebel starter to begin the sixth. Maddox finished with five innings of work, allowed three hits, two earned runs, issued one walk, and punched out five.

😤 @riley_maddox1 pic.twitter.com/lPzaCuVNWR

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 12, 2025

Arvidson trotted back out for the bottom of the fifth, but it was Hill staying hot at the plate for Ole Miss. The Rebel third baseman sent his seventh home run of the season over the left-center field wall, extending the lead to 6-2. Arvidson sat down the Rebels in order after the solo shot by Hill.

Nuke. Hill. ⚡️@Luke_Hill22 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/YhnFbwRv5a

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 12, 2025

Rodriguez began his outing with two quick outs at the start of the sixth, but hit Andrew Fischer with a pitch to keep the inning alive. Dalton Bargo answered the bell for the Volunteers shortly after, sending a no-doubt two-run shot into right that made it a 6-4 game through five and a half played. Will McCausland took over for Rodriguez after the home run.

Federico led off the bottom of the sixth with his second walk of the game, and Judd Utermark followed with a reached on error to give Fawley a pair of runners to work with. The Rebel catcher singled right back up the middle for his second RBI of the day, putting runners on first and second for the top of the lineup.

2️⃣4️⃣ adds to his RBI total!@fawley_austin x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/xgK8l5FHGZ

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 12, 2025

With two down, Isaac Humphrey sent a hard line-drive into right field for a single that scored Utermark. After giving up the two-spot in the top of the frame, Ole Miss returned the favor and led 8-4 through six played. Tanner Franklin took over for Arvidson to end the sixth.

Atta boy, Hump!!! 🌀 pic.twitter.com/13aYhaLHou

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 12, 2025

McCausland gave up a pair of singles to lead off the top of the seventh, and a ground ball to short looked to be the first out but the runner beat the throw to second and the Rebels didn’t have any other play. The Rebels then recorded the biggest two outs of the game in the next at-bat as McCausland got the ground ball for a double play. The Volunteers did plate a run in the process but Ole Miss led 8-5 heading to the bottom of the seventh.

Furniss singled in the bottom of the second, recording the 100th hit of his collegiate career. However, Franklin stranded the Rebel first baseman to end the second scoreless frame of the day for the Ole Miss bats.

In the top of the eighth, McCausland gave up a pair of singles before being replaced by closer Connor Spencer. After walking the first batter he faced, Spencer punched out the next Tennessee batter to strand the bases loaded and get the Swayze crowd fired up.

2️⃣2️⃣🔥@connor44spencer x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/5JxUkI0zqs

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 12, 2025

Luke Cheng beat out a throw for an infield single with two down in the bottom of the eighth. Humphrey followed suit by drawing a walk to set up the red hot Hill at the plate, but a ground ball to third ended the scoring threat for the Rebels.

Spencer gave up a single to Kilen in the top of the ninth, but the closer picked up the next two outs and secured the save for Ole Miss to even the series. Fawley led the Rebels at the plate with a pair of hits, two RBIs and the home run. Maddox was credited with the win (4-2). Ole Miss also finished the game with eight stolen bases, just four shy of the single-game program record.

Up next

The Rebels will return to Swayze tomorrow for the conclusion of the series in a rubber match against the Volunteers. At 2 p.m. CT, No. 6 Ole Miss will take on No. 5 Tennessee. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.