BOOM: Ole Miss to Omaha! Rebels defeat Auburn 5-3 to win Super Regional

AUBURN, Ala. — For five innings, Ole Miss couldn’t solve Auburn starter Alex Petrovic. For the next four, the Rebels solved everything.

Behind a dominant start from Taylor Rabe and a sixth-inning offensive eruption, Ole Miss defeated Auburn 5-3 Saturday night at Plainsman Park to sweep the Auburn Super Regional and punch its ticket to Omaha for the College World Series.

Ole Miss (41-21), the designated home team for Game 2, found itself locked in another early pitchers’ duel with Auburn (42-22).

Rabe got off to a hot start against the Tigers, allowing just three hits through the first two innings. The right-hander kept Auburn off the scoreboard through the first three frames, matching Petrovic inning for inning.

5 strikeouts through 3 innings for @RabeTaylor pic.twitter.com/3tdO3tmDH2

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 6, 2026

Auburn finally broke through in the fourth inning. Bub Terrell lined a single to right field to score Chris Rembert, and a rundown involving Terrell between first and second allowed Ethin Bingaman to cross the plate and give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Petrovic was in complete control. The Auburn starter did not allow a hit through the first five innings and appeared poised to force a deciding Game 3.

That changed in a hurry in the sixth.

Brayden Randle led off the inning with Ole Miss’ first hit of the game, and Dom Decker reached on a hit-by-pitch. With one out, Judd Utermark delivered the biggest swing of the night, ripping a double to center field that scored both runners and tied the game at 2-2.

Judd into the gap! Tie ballgame! pic.twitter.com/Qd32HoKaGP

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 6, 2026

Petrovic’s night ended shortly thereafter. He finished with 5.1 innings pitched, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out five.

Auburn turned to Jackson Sanders out of the bullpen, but Ole Miss kept the pressure on.

Will Furniss blasted a two-run home run in the eighth that scored Utermark and gave the Rebels their first lead of the night.

REBS LEAD pic.twitter.com/WmOO8KMLlP

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 6, 2026

Moments later, Tristan Bissetta added a solo shot to right field as Ole Miss suddenly turned a two-run deficit into a 5-2 advantage.

BACK TO BACK BLASTS pic.twitter.com/0s8gJ3NEJf

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 6, 2026

The offensive outburst provided more than enough support for Rabe, who delivered one of his best performances of the season on the biggest stage.

On the night, Rabe worked seven complete innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking just one. His seven innings are the most pitched by an Ole Miss pitcher in a game this season.

Right guy for the job pic.twitter.com/xrg9tU99gZ

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 6, 2026

With the Rebels six outs from Omaha, head coach Mike Bianco turned the game over to the bullpen.

JP Robertson handled the eighth inning, working around two walks without allowing a hit. With runners on first and second and two outs, Auburn hit a deep fly ball to dead center. Hayden Federico made an incredible catch that robbed the Tigers and kept them from taking the lead.

🫪🫪🫪 pic.twitter.com/4XwqoTYzI6

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 6, 2026

Walker Hooks got the call in the ninth and navigated a tense final frame.

Auburn put its leadoff hitter aboard and later brought the tying run to the plate after a hit batter and a wild pitch moved runners into scoring position. The Tigers scratched across a run on Taylor Belza’s sacrifice fly, but Hooks recorded the final outs to secure the victory and send Ole Miss back to Omaha.

SEE YOU IN OMAHA😤 pic.twitter.com/GHMKuNkqdo

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 7, 2026

The Rebels will now await the winner of North Carolina and USC as they prepare for their next challenge at the College World Series.