Utermark Homers Twice as Ole Miss Clinches Series Over No. 6 Auburn in 15-11 Slugfest

OXFORD, Miss. — Powered by three home runs and a relentless offensive attack, Ole Miss baseball never trailed and knocked off No. 6 Auburn 15-11 on senior night to clinch the series at Swayze Field.

FINAL: Ole Miss 15 – Auburn 11

The Rebels win the final series of the 2025 season and advance to 37-17 (16-13 in the SEC) on the year. Game three is scheduled for 1:30 pm CT tomorrow, May 17, here at Swayze Field. pic.twitter.com/fP9cw9oQJP

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) May 17, 2025

After the game, head coach Mike Bianco commented on the recent success with runners in scoring position for the Rebel offense.

“It’s been a point of emphasis since the beginning, we just haven’t been very good at it. Some of the guys are starting to swing a little bit better, feel a little better throughout the lineup, and that helps — for what it’s worth, I think we have had two really good nights offensively.”

~ Bianco on the Ole Miss offense

Game Recap

Similar to other teams around the SEC on the final weekend of the regular season, the Tigers decided to pitch their Friday starter in game two with the series beginning on Thursday. Usual game one starter Samuel Dutton took the mound for the Tigers, but the Rebel offense got after him immediately.

Mitchell Sanford drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the first, and Luke Hill followed with a single. After a fly out advanced both runners, Judd Utermark launched his first home run of the night and 15th of the season; a three-run shot into the right field seats that made it a 3-0 Ole Miss lead in a hurry.

NO-DOUBTER 💪@JuddUtermark x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/FDGJpjAFlT

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

Riley Maddox started game two for the Rebels; the senior went 3.1 innings before being replaced by Mason Morris in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded. Maddox allowed just two runs, four hits, walked two, and punched out three. Morris bailed the Ole Miss starter out in the bases loaded situation with back-to-back outs to strand the runners.

Following the win, Utermark talked about how important Morris was in top of the fourth for the Rebels.

“It was huge. He’s a strike thrower. He’s able to pound the zone, and obviously you see the radar gun — I faced him all spring; I think I’m a pretty good hitter and I think most these guys think they are pretty good hitters, but that’s a pretty good arm up there.”

~ Utermark on Mason Morris in game two

In the top of the second, Maddox hit Bub Terrell with a pitch and Chase Fralick followed with a double into left to plate the first run for the Tigers. The second run off of Maddox came in the top of the third as Ike Irish hit a solo shot over the left field wall to make it a 3-2 game.

With Dutton still in the game for the Tigers, the Rebel offense plated four more runs in the bottom of the third to answer the solo shot in the top half of the inning. Hill drew a one out walk followed by a single off the bat of Will Furniss that put runners on the corners again for Utermark. The Rebel second baseman delivered with a single through the left side for his fourth RBI of the night.

.@JuddUtermark brings @Luke_Hill22 home adding to his team lead in RBI! pic.twitter.com/xYmepfPh7V

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

Ole Miss was not finished there; Isaac Humphrey singled into left with a blooper over the top of the Auburn shortstop to load the bases, and Ryan Moerman was hit by a pitch to drive in another run. Shortly after, Campbell Smithwick singled into right and plated two more runs before Moerman was thrown out at third to end the frame. The Rebels led 7-2 after three played.

Soup drives in 2️⃣ more!@campbellrsoup x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/g4uyIYxcp8

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 17, 2025

The Tigers turned to lefty Griffin Graves to start the bottom of the fourth, but the Ole Miss offense could not be stopped. Luke Cheng led off the frame with a walk, and a double off the bat of Sanford put both runners in scoring position for Hill. A wild pitch then scored Cheng just before Hill singled into left to plate Sanford and make it a 9-2 Rebel lead.

.@Luke_Hill22 stays hot! pic.twitter.com/iCiiHQsf7A

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 17, 2025

Smithwick picked his third RBI of the night in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Ole Miss lead to 10-2. Morris gave up four runs during his outing with two of them coming in the top of the sixth as Eric Snow made it a 10-4 Auburn deficit.

3️⃣ RBI night for @campbellrsoup! https://t.co/pfgNlcI8t8 pic.twitter.com/9OBF9aQjfj

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 17, 2025

The Tigers replaced Graves with Parker Carlson in the bottom of the sixth. With two down in the frame, Utermark launched his second three-run shot of the night off the righty to give the Rebels a 13-4 lead. It was the 16th long ball of the year for the junior; a towering shot into the night sky that tied him with catcher Austin Fawley for the team lead.

JUDD GOES YARD AGAIN! 💣@JuddUtermark x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/k2085w3DeR

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 17, 2025

Coach Bianco claimed he believes former Rebel Kemp Alderman still hits baseballs farther, but he harped on the growth of Utermark through the years of battling injuries. Utermark had a career high seven RBIs in game two against Auburn.

“This is really the first healthy, full season where he has played baseball for a while. He’s been banged up a lot in his career; I’m proud of him. We’ve talked about him defensively, playing different positions. He’s been super for us.”

~ Bianco on Utermark’s growth

Morris gave up two more runs in the top of the seventh, both of which crossed the plate once the righty already exited the game. Gunnar Dennis took over for Morris with a pair of runners on and two outs, but the southpaw only threw two pitches before Bub Terrell singled and plated a run for the Tigers.

Ole Miss turned to Hudson Calhoun with runners on the corners after the RBI-single, but he issued back-to-back walks and plated another run for Auburn before Walker Hooks came out of the bullpen to record the final out. In the bottom half of the seventh, Carlson posted just the second scoreless frame of the night for the Rebel offense.

Hooks recorded the first two outs in the top of the eighth before giving up a two-run home run to Cooper McMurray. Just like that, Auburn was only down 13-8 but Ole Miss handed it over to closer Connor Spencer to end the frame.

In the bottom half of the eighth, Furniss smashed the third Rebel home run of the night. The two-run shot over the centerfield wall made it a 15-8 Rebel lead before new Auburn arm, Abe Chancellor, ended the inning.

Furn mashes one to straightaway center! 💥@WillFurniss x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/QU86M6yVvh

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 17, 2025

Spencer returned to the mound in the top of the ninth in attempt to close the game out and secure the series win for the Rebels. Although the Tigers added three more runs with a double and the second Ike Irish home run of the night to make it a 15-11 game, the closer finished the job for Ole Miss. Morris was credited with the win (5-1) while the duo of Utermark and Furniss tallied six hits, three home runs, and nine RBIs.

Following the win, Furniss stated that what he loves the most about the 2025 Ole Miss Rebels is their fight.

“We never give up. I don’t think there has been many games this year where we have not been close to, if not had a chance to win in the ninth inning. I’ve never been a part of a team like that, it’s pretty special. All the guys are really close, and that’s what you need especially with an older team. We have a chance to do something really cool.”

~ Furniss on the 2025 Ole Miss Rebels

Up next

The Rebels and the Tigers will be back at Swayze tomorrow to conclude the series as well as the 2025 college baseball season. Game three is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on the SEC Network +.