No. 25 Ole Miss baseball closes out Bruce Bolt Classic with 9-2 loss to Coastal Carolina

HOUSTON — Ole Miss learned quickly on Sunday what separates ranked teams from top-10 teams. No. 9 Coastal Carolina capitalized on free passes, defensive miscues, and late-inning opportunities to hand No. 25 Ole Miss a 9-2 loss in the finale of the BRUCE BOLT College Classic at Daikin Park.

For a Rebels team that entered the weekend unbeaten, the final result served as a blunt reminder that clean baseball matters — especially against elite competition.

Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco

Coastal struck first, going up 1-0 in the top of the third. But the Rebels answered.

Dom Decker continued his scorching weekend with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame, flipping an early deficit into a 2-1 Rebel lead. The blast was Decker’s fourth of the week and briefly gave Ole Miss control of the afternoon. Unfortunately, that control didn’t last.

Starter Wil Libbert worked efficiently through the first four innings, allowing just one run and keeping Coastal Carolina’s lineup mostly in check. But the fifth inning went awry as three walks in four batters loaded the bases and opened the door for the Chanticleers. A run-scoring groundout, followed by a two-run double to right, quickly erased Ole Miss’ advantage and forced a pitching change.

JP Robertson entered in relief and showed swing-and-miss stuff, striking out four in 1.2 innings. The Rebels were down 4-2 after five and Coastal continued to add more as Ole Miss defensive mistakes only compounded the damage. Three Rebel errors — including two charged to catcher Austin Fawley — led to additional unearned runs and widened the gap.

Coastal Carolina did not waste its opportunities, scoring two runs in the sixth, two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to push the lead to 9-2.

Scott Doran delivered a steady six-inning start for the Chanticleers, allowing just four hits and two runs while striking out five. Once he exited, reliever Darin Horn shut the door, limiting any chance of a late Rebel push.

Offensively, Ole Miss struggled to generate sustained pressure. The Rebels collected six hits, but only four players accounted for them. Tristan Bissetta and Hayden Federico each recorded two hits, while Cannon Goldin added one. Meanwhile, middle-of-the-order threats Judd Utermark and Will Furniss combined to go 0-for-8 with four strikeouts.

Despite trailing by multiple runs late, Ole Miss never mounted a serious rally. The final innings moved quickly as Coastal Carolina efficiently closed out the seven-run victory.

Libbert took the loss after allowing four runs over 4.2 innings, while Doran improved to 3-0 with the win.

The defeat capped a 1-2 weekend for the Rebels and snapped their early-season unbeaten run. More importantly, it highlighted areas that will need tightening — command consistency, defensive execution, and timely hitting — as the schedule intensifies.

Ole Miss won’t have long to dwell on the result. The Rebels return home for a busy week that includes midweek matchups against Memphis and North Alabama before opening a three-game series against Evansville on Friday.

Early-season tournaments are built for evaluation as much as momentum. On Sunday, Coastal Carolina provided a clear measuring stick — and a reminder that every detail matters.