Rebels use long ball, shut-down relief to come from behind as they take down Georgia 10-8 in game one

OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 17 Ole Miss Rebels came from behind 8-0 in the fourth inning to take the series opener against the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs, 10-8, in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

The last time Ole Miss rallied from eight runs down to come back and win was April 24, 2021, against LSU.

Ole Miss (31-12, 11-8 SEC) bashed five home runs against the Bulldogs off the bats of Austin Fawley, Dom Decker, Will Furniss, and Hayden Federico in game one of the double header.

Georgia (32-11, 13-6 SEC) came into the weekend having scored 402 runs on the season, and the Bulldogs have continued finding ways to produce runs. They jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage in the first after back-to-back hits by Tre Phelps and Daniel Jackson. The pair crossed the plate on a two-out base knock by Ryan Lujo.

Hunter Elliott settled in after the first inning and didn’t allow Georgia to score another run for two innings. 

The Georgia starter Joey Volcko kept the Rebels’ high-powered offense quiet through the first three frames of the game.

Georgia extended its lead in the fourth inning by plating six runs. The Bulldogs sent 11 batters to the plate to go up 8-0 over the Rebels.

Elliott worked 3.2, allowing eight runs on nine hits with two hit-by-pitches, no walks, and two strikeouts.

Coach Mike Bianco made the call for Landon Waters out of the bullpen. He tossed 2.1 innings with no runs on a hit with two walks and a strikeout.

The comeback begins

In the home half of the fourth, Ole Miss climbed back into the game after a grand slam by Fawley into the student section in right field. Fawley brought home Furniss, Federico and Owen Paino. 

.@fawley_austin GRAND SLAM💥
That’s his second grand slam of the season‼️ pic.twitter.com/FRbO49sLmp

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 25, 2026

Volchko tossed 5.2 innings with four runs on three hits, along with five walks and striking out ten.

Georgia made a pitching change in the sixth inning as Caden Aoki came in to face the Rebels. Ole Miss erased another run in the seventh after a solo home run by Decker into the students in right field, cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to 8-5.

Long GONE💣@DominicDecker12 with his 7⃣th HR on the season🔥 pic.twitter.com/S6ELbe1ppl

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 25, 2026

Bianco brought Landon Koenig to the mound for 2.0 innings with no runs on a hit, no walks, and a strikeout.

Furniss joined the home run parade in the eighth with a solo shot to center.

♨️Don’t let the REBS get HOT♨️@WillFurniss with the deep ball🫡 pic.twitter.com/pTtSYJoNoY

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 25, 2026

Federico followed with a blast to right field that cut the Georgia lead to 8-7.

THE REBS ARE ON 🔥🔥🔥@haydenfederico3 with the blast🚀 pic.twitter.com/gB8gO6MXGr

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 25, 2026

Decker put the Rebels in the lead 10-8 with his eighth home run on the season.

DOUBLE DECKER 🤩 @DominicDecker12
REBS TAKE THE LEAD IN THE 8TH‼️ pic.twitter.com/dyPbVFeVat

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 25, 2026

Hooks and Federico seal the win

In the ninth, Bianco brought Walker Hooks in out of the pen. He gave up just one hit and one walk in five batters faced and sealed the come-from-behind win.

Hayden Federico made a monster catch in the outfield as the Bulldogs had two runners on and two outs.

.@haydenfederico3 BE LEGENDARY🤌
WHAT. A. SNAG.🔥 pic.twitter.com/yIT3S0ghtG

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) April 25, 2026

Koenig earns the win, while Hooks records a save.

The Rebels pitch staff kept a high-powered home run team that came in with 116 on the season to none in the game.

Game Two of DH

Ole Miss looks to take the series in the second game of the doubleheader this afternoon. The first pitch is set for 5:05 p.m.