Ole Miss baseball takes game one over Vols, 7-4; Rebels’ winning streak moves to seven

Ole Miss baseball just keeps rolling. On a night where timely hitting and steady pitching once again set the tone, the No. 23 Rebels knocked off Tennessee, 7-4, on Friday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, stretching their winning streak to seven games and continuing their surge through SEC play.

Ole Miss (28-11, 9-7 SEC) wasted little time applying pressure, playing with the same confidence and edge that fueled last weekend’s sweep of LSU and a midweek win over Southern Miss.

Rebels Strike Early, Stay in Control

The Rebels grabbed momentum early and never truly let it go.

Outfielder Hayden Federico delivered one of his best performances of the season, going 3-for-4 at the plate and driving in three runs. His solo home run in the second inning — his first of the year — gave Ole Miss an early spark and set the tone offensively.

Federico goes off the videoboard for his first home run of the season! pic.twitter.com/vvYYEDhffw

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 17, 2026

Federico has been red-hot at the plate, and Friday night was just the latest example, as he continues to string together quality at-bats and come through in key moments.

The Vols scored first off a first-inning home run from Reese Chapman. The Rebels answered in the second with Federico’s homer.

Then, in the top of the third, Tristan Bissetta and Judd Utermark hit back-to-back home runs that gave Ole Miss a 3-1 lead the Rebs never relinquished.

Back 2 Back Jacks pic.twitter.com/GyTsfICz62

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 17, 2026

The Rebels continued to manufacture runs throughout the game, consistently putting pressure on Tennessee’s pitching staff and capitalizing on scoring opportunities to build separation.

Elliott, Calhoun and Hooks Steady on the Mound

On the mound, Hunter Elliott delivered exactly what the Rebels needed, as did middle reliever Hudson Calhoun and closer Walker Hooks.

The left-handed Elliott worked six innings to earn the win, allowing three earned runs on six hits while keeping Tennessee from ever gaining full momentum.

5 punchouts through 3 innings for @elliotthunter10 pic.twitter.com/1PjeIgx4IS

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 17, 2026

He mixed his pitches well and limited damage in key spots, giving Ole Miss a dependable presence as the offense built its lead. He moves to 4-1 on the season.

Back to back Friday night quality starts for @elliotthunter10 pic.twitter.com/ixEafBaKt9

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

When Elliott exited, the Rebels’ bullpen did enough to close the door.

Hudson Calhoun entered in the seventh and pitched for two innings. His final line was: one run, one hit, four strikeouts, and no walks.

Three strikeouts in a row for @H_Calhoun2 pic.twitter.com/epjSVg0kPp

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

Walker Hooks secured the save, navigating late-inning pressure to preserve the win. Hooks’ final line is: one inning pitched, no runs, no hits, no walks and three ground outs.

Another Statement Win

Tennessee (25-13, 7-9 SEC) had its moments offensively but was never able to string together enough to truly threaten Ole Miss’ control of the game.

Instead, the Rebels once again looked like a team finding its stride at the right time — confident, connected, and playing with purpose.

With seven straight wins, including victories over ranked opponents, Ole Miss is continuing to build a resume that’s becoming harder and harder to ignore.

Next Up:

Because of expected inclement weather, Saturday’s game has been moved up to 3:00 p.m. CT.

Tomorrow’s game will now start at 4 PM ET/3 PM CT! https://t.co/Z5Boih46gy

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