Ole Miss Baseball Wins Extra-Innings Thriller in SEC Opener over No. 2 Texas Longhorns in Austin

AUSTIN — The Ole Miss Rebels completed a wild comeback and held on in a 9-8 extra innings thriller in their SEC opener against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns inside UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas.

NEVER A DOUBT!

Rebs win it in extras thanks to Bisetta’s go-ahead grand slam in the 9th, and Owen Paino’s RBI-walk in the 11th.

Ole Miss looks to take the series tomorrow over No. 2 Texas. First pitch is at 2:30 p.m. CT. Hotty Toddy! pic.twitter.com/eh07CHKNaM

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) March 14, 2026

Ole Miss now moves to 16-3 (1-0 SEC), as well as recording their first win over a top 5 team since May 24 2025 — in the SEC tournament against the No. 1 LSU Tigers — while Texas falls for the first time this season, moving to 16-1 (0-1 SEC) on the year.

The Recap

Both sides relied on their pitching early, as Hunter Elliott took the mound for the Rebels, and over the first two scoreless innings recorded six strikeouts, only allowing a baserunner via a hit by pitch.

5 punchouts in a row to start the game for @elliotthunter10! pic.twitter.com/AH7c5abuVn

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2026

The Rebels eventually helped out their ace with a big third inning, starting with Judd Utermark knocking in the first run of the day with an RBI single, before a groundout from Will Furniss allowed another to score. Tristan Bissetta capped the inning off with an RBI single that gave Ole Miss a 3-0 lead.

5 punchouts in a row to start the game for @elliotthunter10! pic.twitter.com/AH7c5abuVn

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2026

The Longhorns, however, had an immediate response as Ethan Mendoza crushed a three-run shot over the left field wall to tie the game at three apiece with no outs in the bottom half of the inning.

Following the home run, Elliott found himself with runners on first and second with two outs, and eventually got out of it with a strikeout, his seventh in three innings.

The Longhorns proceeded to take the lead in the following inning as Casey Borba launched a leadoff home run, giving Texas a 4-3 lead that would stand for quite a while.

Ole Miss threatened in the fifth with runners on second and third, but was unable to convert as Texas maintained its 4-3 lead.

The Ole Miss bats continued to struggle, but the Longhorns lost their fight at the plate as well, with both sides pairing off multiple 1-2-3 innings in what was an uneventful second half of the game.

Texas put themselves into position for some insurance with runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Anthony Pack Jr. smashed a three-run homer into right field to give the Longhorns a 7-3 advantage that could have dampened the Rebels’ spirits — but didn’t.

The Horns threatened to add on more, but Ole Miss limited the damage, heading to the ninth with three outs to go.

Ole Miss quickly loaded the bases to begin the inning with two hit-by-pitches and a walk. Dom Decker then produced an RBI groundout to bring Ole Miss back to within three; however, a foul pop-out left the Rebels down to their final out.

After Furniss drew a walk, Bissetta stepped up with Ole Miss down to its last chance — and blasted a go-ahead grand slam, giving Ole Miss their first lead since the top of the third inning, 8-7.

TRISTAN BISSETTA 464 FT FOR THE LEAD!! pic.twitter.com/0CwgGytNzX

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2026

Ole Miss went into the bottom of the ninth and handed the ball to Taylor Rabe, who has been a bridge man on Saturday, but got the save spot this time.

Rabe was faced with a runner on second base with one out, eventually pushed it to two outs and a 3-2 count, but Temo Becerra ripped an RBI single through the right side of the infield, scoring the tying run to make it 8-8 and send the game to extra innings.

Ole Miss ran up a pitch count in the top of the tenth but to no avail as the Rebels went scoreless, giving Texas another chance to walk it off in the bottom of the frame.

But with a Texas runner on second base, Rabe stood tall and forced the game to the decisive eleventh inning.

Rabe with another K to send us to the 11th! pic.twitter.com/99dZtf0CC3

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2026

Ole Miss scraped a run across as they juiced the bases and pinch hit Owen Paino for the pitcher’s spot, which was added to the lineup when Furniss was moved out of the lineup, forcing Reuter to move from DH to first base. Paino came off the bench and delivered the run with a walk before a fielder’s choice saw a runner out at home.

A bases loaded walk gives us the lead in the 11th! pic.twitter.com/Kf2VizetG1

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2026

A double play ended the top of the eleventh with Ole Miss ahead, 9-8, clinging to a one-run lead over the Longhorns.

Landon Waters entered for Ole Miss in hopes of closing out the game for Ole Miss.

Waters slammed the door closed, producing two groundouts and a strikeout, clinching a win in the SEC opener over one of the nation’s best baseball teams.

Waters punches ’em out for the win! pic.twitter.com/puv0TYEXH8

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) March 14, 2026

A Look Ahead

Ole Miss and Texas will play two more this weekend in Austin, with Saturday’s first pitch set for 2:30 P.M. CT and Sunday’s at 1:00 P.M. CT.