Ole Miss Secures Series with Game Two Win over LSU, Run-Rules Tigers 12-2 in Seven Innings
OXFORD, Miss. — On Saturday afternoon at Swayze Field, Ole Miss baseball secured the series against their rivals, the LSU Tigers, run-ruling them with a final score of 12-2 after seven innings.
Ole Miss was down 2-0 after three complete in a game that initially looked ominous for the Rebels. With the Rebels going into the fourth without a hit, it looked as if they might drop the game and even the series. But the Ole Miss offense then came alive, and head coach Mike Bianco’s team never looked back.
It was a game in which the bats finally came alive for the Rebels, something the Ole Miss faithful had been desperately wishing for.
Cade Townsend got the start on the mound, and after a bit of a rough start, he locked in. He finished with a stat line of six innings pitched, eight strikeouts, and a 2.02 ERA while throwing 84 pitches. He could have gone longer, but there was no need by the time the seventh came up. Hudson Calhoun came in for relief in the seventh and ended the game with a strikeout.
This game marks a huge win, as almost every series is crucial from here on out. After the game, Cade Townsend was asked about his start, and he said it didn’t really bother him.
“I think I got punched in the mouth in the first and second. And I was kind of expecting that, they changed the plan from yesterday. But you’re going to have to punch a lot harder than that to get me out of the game.“
Cade Townsend on the first two innings of the game
Who Stood Out?
Owen Paino has been on a tear this weekend. He has hit .500 for the weekend with two doubles and three RBI today. He was also walked. After a rough start earlier in the season, Paino has clearly found his groove and has found himself deserving of some more playing time.
The game
Townsend got the start on the mound, and first baseman Will Furniss got the game’s first out with a good scoop. After a ground out, followed by his first strikeout of the day, Townsend struggled for the rest of the first inning. He gave up a walk, and the Tigers then notched two hits in a row that plated one run. Ole Miss left fielder Canon Goldin ended the inning, making a catch in left field to send the Rebels to the plate. It would be an unceremonious beginning, with Ole Miss going three-up, three-down.
A sacrifice fly for the Tigers gave them another run in the second, bringing their lead to 2-0. It appeared Townsend’s day might end earlier than expected.
In the bottom of the second Hayden Federico and Goldin were both walked, but the Rebels were unable to take advantage of either. Ole Miss was held hitless through two innings.
Things started to change in terms of pitching for Ole Miss in the third. Townsend got out of the inning without allowing a run, stranding one Tiger on the bases. Offensively in the third, the Rebels continued to struggle. At that point, LSU had five hits to Ole Miss’ zero. This dominance was due in part to the performance of the Tigers’ starting pitcher, William Schmidt, who had seven strikeouts through the first three innings.
But after giving up a hit to begin the fourth inning, Townsend soon was on fire, striking out the next three batters. The fourth inning is when the Rebel offense also found life. Multiple wild pitches and a sacrifice fly allowed Ole Miss to score its first run of the game off a sacrifice fly from Federico that scored Judd Utermark.
Rebs on the board‼️ pic.twitter.com/R21keYxqvE
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 11, 2026
Brayden Randle soon singled to right to score Furniss.
RBI single ties the game! @BraydenRandle pic.twitter.com/olaoVLHUWf
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 11, 2026
Austin Fawley then blew the game wide open, hitting a 399-foot, two-run home run to give Ole Miss the lead, 4-2, after four. This is also when LSU started to cycle through pitchers. The Tigers would not score another run in the game, as the momentum shifted directly to the Rebels’ side.
FAWLEY BOMB FOR THE LEAD 💣 @fawley_austin pic.twitter.com/ysL16GslWa
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 11, 2026
Going into the fifth with a two-run lead, Townsend struck out two and then induced a fly out that ended the frame for the Tigers. LSU’s offense had stalled completely.
Just kidding, make that 8 K’s for Townsend! pic.twitter.com/cybim1mc51
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 11, 2026
The Ole Miss offense, on the other hand, was in its groove. Utermark led off by singling to left, followed by Furniss being hit by a pitch. Federico then hit a single to left field to drive in Utermark and extend Ole Miss’ lead to 5-2.
Fed brings the score to 🖐️ for the Rebs! pic.twitter.com/HZS3uBO1AU
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 11, 2026
In the top half of the sixth, Cannon Goldin notched all three outs for the Rebels, with three straight fly balls.
At the plate in the bottom of the inning, Paino, who had a good game up to this point, drew a walk to open the floodgates. A single from Dom Decker to right field put Ole Miss runners on the corners with no outs. Another wild pitch, something that had hampered LSU the entire game, scored another run as Paino crossed home plate.
Continuing the run in the sixth, Tristan Bissetta was hit by a pitch, and Judd Utermark singled through the left side and advanced to second on the throw. Utermark earned the RBI as Decker scored. Ole Miss led 7-2 at this point.
Judd plates one‼️ pic.twitter.com/CIvKFrjU0v
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 11, 2026
Furniss hit a single that drove in Bissetta and Utermark, giving Ole Miss a 9-2 lead.
AND FURN PLATES ✌️ pic.twitter.com/vTck1tOf4K
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 11, 2026
Federico drew a walk, as did Fawley, and with the bases loaded, Paino came up to hit again. On a full-count pitch, Paino notched a bases-clearing double to left center that scored three, putting the game in run-rule territory as the Rebs then led the visitors from Baton Rouge, 12-2.
BASES CLEARING DOUBLE FOR PAINO!!!! pic.twitter.com/6wvsB1WB8x
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 11, 2026
The game ended in the seventh, with Hundson Calhoun coming in to relieve Townsend. Two fly outs and a strikeout would end the contest and Ole Miss would secure the crucial SEC series.
BASES CLEARING DOUBLE FOR PAINO!!!! pic.twitter.com/6wvsB1WB8x
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 11, 2026
Next Up
Ole Miss looks to complete the series sweep tomorrow as the Rebels face the LSU Tigers at 1:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SECN+.
Luke Dunavant
Luke Dunavant is a junior at the University of Mississippi, majoring in Journalism, with an emphasis in Sports Media and a minor in Sports Management. He is originally from Hernando, Mississippi, and graduated high school from Magnolia Heights. His favorite sports are basketball, football, and soccer. Growing up, he played baseball, football, and soccer at different points, immersing himself in the world of sports. He tries to always bring the same passion he had playing sports into covering them.
