No. 20 Ole Miss Baseball Tops No. 9 Texas A&M in Series Opener at Swayze

OXFORD, Miss. — The No. 20 Ole Miss Rebels fended off the No. 9Texas A&M Aggies 5-3 in Friday night’s series opener at Swayze Field

Ole Miss was powered by starter Hunter Elliott, who turned in 6 innings pitched, tied a career high of 11 strikeouts, allowing 2 runs (1 earned), 5 hits, and just 1 walk.

Ole Miss opened the scoring early, when Will Furniss grounded into a double play, but allowed Dom Decker to come home and score just three batters into the Rebels’ offense. The second inning was also productive as Topher Jones rolled into a fielder’s choice to bring in the game’s second run, making it 2-0 Rebels.

.@TopherJones6 beats it out and scores Reuter pic.twitter.com/xqVqoszIas

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 9, 2026

Elliott was cruising on the mound and continued through the fourth, picking up his 300th career strikeout to end the frame, becoming just the third pitcher in Ole Miss history to eclipse that mark. Elliott joins established MLB pitchers Lance Lynn and Drew Pomeranz in the Ole Miss 300-strikeout club.

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That’s the record! 3⃣0⃣0⃣ career strikeouts for @elliotthunter10 pic.twitter.com/gaGWVtZeMy

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 9, 2026

And counting 📈 pic.twitter.com/Cd6gIVCNpl

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 9, 2026

The Rebels continued building an advantage at the plate following the milestone. Decker, who scored the game’s first run, singled in Owen Paino with two outs, making it 3-0 Ole Miss in the fourth.

…RBI single by @DominicDecker12 scores Paino💪 pic.twitter.com/8IIoyqtX9U

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 9, 2026

The Aggies put themselves on the board and in striking distance in the fifth, finally getting to Elliott. A&M scored with a fielder’s choice from Sawyer Farr, before a fielding error gave them their second run off the bat of Caden Sorrell. However, they left the tying runner on second. Nevertheless, they cut the Ole Miss lead to 3-2 in the fifth.

Elliott, despite a high pitch count, returned to the mound for the sixth and picked up his 11th strikeout, tying a career high and keeping a 3-2 lead for the Rebels.

Hudson Calhoun relieved Elliott in the seventh and threw a no-hit inning, but did hit a batter who was forced to exit. Calhoun worked around it, setting up a six-out save opportunity for Walker Hooks, who took the mound to begin the eighth.

Ole Miss tacked on two runs at the plate, first from Furniss, who roped a two-out double off the wall, allowing Judd Utermark to score from first.

.@WillFurniss doubles and scores Judd‼️ pic.twitter.com/SJPTuBTCS1

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 9, 2026

That was followed by Tristan Bissetta smacking a first-pitched single into center to make it 5-2 Ole Miss after seven complete.

Crooked number 7th for the Rebs. @TristanBissetta brings Furniss 🏡 pic.twitter.com/4lPg7lbPgo

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 9, 2026

The Aggies put pressure on Hooks and the Rebels in the eighth, loading the bases with no outs, but a one-run fielder’s choice was the only damage they could provide, making it 5-3 Ole Miss.

Cool as the other side of the pillow.@Walker_Hooks9 🥶 pic.twitter.com/y29NwKZBCY

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 9, 2026

The Rebels failed to add insurance at the plate in the bottom of the eighth, and entered the ninth with a two-run advantage.

An Aggies’ runner reached via an error and set up the tying run at the plate with one out, but a strikeout and diving play from Furniss secured the Rebels win, 5-3.

.@WillFurniss handles the hotshot to slam the door shut.

We’ll play two tomorrow, starting at 2pm‼️ pic.twitter.com/mXZc2ypfQY

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 9, 2026

A Look Ahead

Ole Miss and Texas A&M will conclude the series tomorrow with a doubleheader. Game one will begin at 2 P.M. CT, and game two will begin approximately sixty minutes after the conclusion of game one.