Ole Miss Falls 3-2 to Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament Final After Late Rally

HOOVER, Ala. — Ole Miss came up short in the SEC Baseball Tournament championship game Sunday, falling 3-2 to Vanderbilt after a ninth-inning rally fell flat.

Head coach Mike Bianco talked about being proud of his team and the pain in losing during the post game.

“I’m really proud of our guys. We are in a good spot heading into the regionals next week, but losing that trophy leaves a bitter taste into your mouth.”

~ Bianco after the loss

Game Recap

For the second game in a row, the Rebels started a true freshman on the mound. Lefty Walker Hooks recorded two outs in five pitches during the opening frame before hitting a batter. Brodie Johnston then launched the first pitch he saw from Hooks over the left field wall for a two-run shot that gave the Commodores a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Hooks found himself in trouble in the bottom of the fourth again after giving up back-to-back singles and a wild pitch that put runners on the corners for Vanderbilt with one out. However, the southpaw worked out of the jam and punched out the next two batters to end a scoreless frame. Taylor Rabe replaced Hooks at the start of the bottom of the fifth.

Back 2️⃣ Back@Walker_Hooks9 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/dGOWhV5z16

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 25, 2025

Hooks finished with four innings for work, gave up three hits, two runs, did not walk a batter, and recored three strikeouts. The freshman was credited with the loss as well (1-1). After the game, Bianco talked about the decision to start Hooks in the final.

“Today was going to be one of those days where we throw guys we like and guys we trust but maybe not the headliner name, and it started with Hooks. We liked the left-hander against this Vanderbilt team; he pitched well in the game that they beat us up in (during the regular season) — Brodie Johnston, tournament MVP and a really good player in his own right, got a fastball and got it out to left but beyond that we thought Hooks was terrific.”

~ Bianco on the performance by Hooks

Austin Nye started for the Commodores and made quick work of the Ole Miss lineup for four consecutive innings until the Rebels put traffic on the bases in the top of the fifth. It was Hayden Federico drawing a two out walk and Luke Cheng being hit by a pitch that finally knocked Nye off the mound. Miller Green came out of the bullpen to replace Nye, but threw just one pitch to Mitchell Sanford that resulted in a RBI-single into center to make it a 2-1 game through four and a half played.

Sanford gets us on the board!@Mitchell__4 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/g9lEYKE0MP

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 25, 2025

With Rabe on the mound in the bottom of the fifth, the Vanderbilt offense got the run right back thanks to a solo shot from Jacob Humphrey to lead off the frame. Rabe struggled a bit but eventually got out of the inning with a double play up the middle. The Rebels trailed 3-1 heading into the sixth.

The Rebels had a chance to make things interesting in the top of the seventh with a pair of runners on and one out. However, Collin Reuter came off the bench to pinch hit in place of Cheng and grounded into a twin-killing double play that ended the frame.

Sophomore Hudson Calhoun took over for Rabe in the bottom of the seventh and sat the Commodores down in order to post a zero. Rabe pitched two innings, gave up three hits, one run, issued one walk, and did not record a strikeout.

Isaac Humphrey gave the Ole Miss offense some life with one out in the top of the ninth, sending a rocket of a solo shot over the right field wall to make it a 3-2 game. Shortly after, Federico and Austin Fawley drew back-to-back two-out walks, but Sawyer Hawks secured the championship victory for the Commodores with a fly out to center to end the Rebel rally.

Hump cuts the lead to one!#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/9Fy9jEXkSA

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 25, 2025

During the trophy celebration, Judd Utermark, Hunter Elliott and Connor Spencer were officially named to the 2025 SEC Baseball All-Tournament team.

Elliott joined Bianco in the post-game press conference and spoke about what it would mean to him to pitch in a regional at Swayze Field.

“I have never played postseason baseball in Oxford. I have heard that it is truly special. It will be one of the best environments in college baseball next weekend. Just me being from Mississippi, I grew up coming to games, going to some really cool postseason games. It would mean the world to me to play in one.”

~ Elliott on hosting a regional in Oxford

Up next

The Rebels will return to Oxford and prepare for 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament under Bianco. Ole Miss will find out if Swayze Field is a host site at 6:30 p.m. CT on May 25, and will wait for the full selection show on Monday, May 26 at 11 a.m. CT. The selection show will be televised on ESPN2.