Ole Miss Baseball Defeats Tennessee, 8-1, in Game Two; Rebels Secure Third Straight Series Victory

KNOXVILLE — The No. 25 Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 8-1 on Saturday inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium, securing their third straight series victory. Ole Miss was powered by dominating pitching paired with a late offensive surge beat the Vols on the road for their first series win in Knoxville since 2016.

Ole Miss (29-11 overall, 10-7 in SEC) was led by starter Cade Townsend, who was through five, no-hit innings but lost the no-hit bid with one out in the sixth when shortstop Brayden Randle knocked down a ground ball with a dive, but could not get the ball over to first.

Following the hit, Townsend found himself in a jam with runners on first and second. A fly ball into right-center, left runners on the corners with two down. Towsnend responded with a three-pitch strikeout to end the inning and maintain a scoreless game through six.

Fire us up @cadetownsendmlb! pic.twitter.com/hRzxSJZK83

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 18, 2026

Townsend was done after that, with his final line being 6.0 innings pitched, 1 hit, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts on 88 pitches.

However, the impressive pitching was backed up with a late offensive surge where Ole Miss tallied 8 runs in the last three innings. Most notably from Tristan Bissetta, who crushed a grand slam in the top of the ninth, giving Ole Miss a 6-0 lead, before Judd Utermark crushed a solo shot for back-to-back home runs for the Rebels that created an insurmountable lead.

Tennessee (25-14 overall, 7-10 in SEC) starter Tegan Kuhns dealt, throwing 5.2 innings, allowing 5 hits, giving up just 1 walk, and throwing 10 strikeouts on 96 pitches.

Kuhns exited the game after a two-out single in the sixth, but freshman reliever Cam Appenzeller produced a quick fly out to escape the frame unscathed.

Ole Miss finally broke the scoreless tie after 6.2 innings when Dom Decker skied a ball nearly over the left field wall, but settled for a sacrifice fly, making it 1-0 Ole Miss.

Rebs on the board! pic.twitter.com/RK2WdFaO5m

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 18, 2026

Following the run in the top of the seventh inning, Ole Miss turned to Landon Waters out of the bullpen, ending Townsend’s incredible night. Waters proceeded to work around a two-out walk for a scoreless frame.

The Rebels added some insurance when Hayden Federico drilled a ball into the left-center gap, allowing Utermark to go from first to home, making it a 2-0 game in favor of Ole Miss in the top of the eighth.

Stay hot Fed! 💥 pic.twitter.com/khaOcJOSj0

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 18, 2026

Ole Miss turned to Hudson Calhoun to begin the eighth, marking the second time this year he has pitched twice in a weekend. Calhoun faced just two batters, giving up a walk and getting a strikeout before Walker Hooks entered on the mound. Hooks proceeded to get the last two outs of the eighth, including a strikeout, looking to escape the frame.

Ole Miss delivered the dagger in the top of the ninth, when Bissetta crushed a grand slam into the wind coming in from center field, to extend the Rebel lead to six with no outs.

TRISTAN BISSETTA GRAND SLAM pic.twitter.com/MbapeP37Ye

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 18, 2026

Utermark tailed the grand slam and the Vols pitching change with a solo shot of his own for back-to-back home runs and a 7-0 Ole Miss lead.

Back 2 Back Jacks (Saturday Edition) pic.twitter.com/qKRtnvBNrq

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 18, 2026

The Rebels tagged on one more from a Collin Reuter RBI double, before finally recording the third out heading into the bottom of the ninth with an 8-0 lead.

Hooks stayed in for the ninth, recording a three-pitch strikeout before Tennessee got on the board when Trent Grindlinger sent a solo shot off the scoreboard in right, making it 8-1 Ole Miss. Hooks followed the home run with back-to-back groundouts to secure the series win.

A Look Ahead

Ole Miss looks for the sweep tomorrow as the Volunteers host the series finale. First pitch is set for noon Central Time.