Ole Miss Falls to Troy in College World Series Elimination Game

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OMAHA — The ending wasn’t the one Ole Miss wanted, but it doesn’t erase what the Rebels accomplished to get here.

Facing elimination on college baseball’s biggest stage, Ole Miss battled from the opening inning to the final out Sunday afternoon before falling 12-8 to Troy at Charles Schwab Field. The loss ended the Rebels’ season one win shy of extending their stay in Omaha, but it also brought to a close a postseason run that carried Ole Miss from Lincoln to Auburn and ultimately back to the College World Series for the first time since 2022.

FINAL FROM OMAHA. That will be it for the Ole Miss Rebels this season.. Proud of this team for all the heart they showed all season as they battled their way to Omaha. pic.twitter.com/lGz22qAo5H

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) June 14, 2026

Ole Miss’ (41-23, 15-15 SEC) junior Hunter Elliott came into the elimination game undefeated in the postseason on the bump during his four years in Oxford. In the first inning, Elliott worked around a double to Aaron Piasecki and then retired the side by strikeout.

Troy (39-31, 17-13 SBC) sent senior right-hander Tommy Egan to the mound to face the Rebels.

Ole Miss got the offense going in the first against Troy as Dom Decker reached second on an error by the first baseman. Decker advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Judd Utermark. A few batters later, Tristan Bissetta drew a two-out walk and then scored on a double by Hayden Federico to go up 2-0.

The Trojans got on the scoreboard in the second with a two-run home run to right field off the bat of Sean Darnell that tied the game up at 2-2.

Ole Miss answered in the second inning, as Austin Fawley singled, followed by a two-run home run by Brayden Randle to go up 4-2.

Randle goes over the bullpen for the lead! pic.twitter.com/Wy5c6Bjaqt

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 14, 2026

The Rebels’ first baseman, Will Furniss, walked to open the third inning. Federico earned a one-out walk that moved Furniss to second base. Fawley popped up to the second baseman, which ended the frame.

Troy made a call to the bullpen after the walk to Furniss for Hayden Smith.

Egan worked 2.0 plus innings, surrendered four runs (two earned) on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Ole Miss added onto their lead in the fourth after a two-run home run by Collin Reuter into the bullpen in right field that scored Randle.

Hotty Toddy in motion 💥

Collin Reuter with a 2-run BOMB to extend the Rebs lead!!#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @OleMissBSB pic.twitter.com/JHOCJ2pnNf

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 14, 2026

Decker then drew a walk. Bissetta got a base hit to left that moved Decker to second. Federico grounded out to second to end the frame. Ole Miss took a 6-2 advantage.

The Trojans made another call to the bullpen for right-hander Noah Thigpen.

Smith’s day came to a close after an inning plus of work as he allowed two runs on two hits with a couple of walks and two strikeouts.

Troy loaded the bases in the fifth, after two base hits by Josh Pyne and Jimmy Janicki, then a two-out walk to Drew Nelson. Troy scored Pyne on a balk by Elliott.  Janicki and Nelson scored on a base hit by Darnell, making the score 6-5 Ole Miss.

Coach Mike Bianco made the call to the bullpen for JP Robertson.

Elliott worked 4.2 innings, surrendered five runs on seven hits with four walks and nine strikeouts.

Troy tied the game on a solo home run to left by Janicki at 6-6 in the seventh. Nelson got a one-out base knock. Darnell then walked and moved Nelson to second. A double by Jabe Boroff scored Nelson and Darnell. Boroff came in on a base knock by Houston Markham. Troy took a 9-6 lead.

Robertson’s day came to a close after 1.2 innings, allowing a run on two hits with no walks and a strikeout.

Bianco brought Walker Hooks into the game in the seventh.

Federico led off the bottom of the seventh with a base knock to center and moved to second base on a fielder’s choice. Fawley brought Federico home on a base knock to the left side of the infield that made the score 9-7, Troy.

Troy led off the eighth inning with a solo home run to Blake Cavill. Troy tacted on two more on an error by Owen Paino off the bat of Boroff that scored Nelson and Darnell to go up 12-7.

Hooks’ day came to a close as Wil Libbert took over on the mound. Hooks worked 0.2 innings, surrendered three runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Furniss blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to left field that cut the Troy lead down to four runs, 12-8. Of note, Furniss hit a home run in his very first at-bat as a Rebel and also did so in his last.

Solo shot for Furniss into the bullpen! pic.twitter.com/Y2W3wM1xUf

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 14, 2026

Thigpen worked 5.0 plus innings, allowed two runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

Libbert tossed an inning, allowed two runs on a hit with a walk, and had no strikeouts. Landon Waters came in to work the ninth inning.

Troy opened the ninth inning with a base hit and a walk.

Ole Miss got a leadoff base knock by Federico in the bottom of the ninth before Paino then went down on strikes. Fawley flew out to deep right-center field. Randle went down on strikes but he finished the game going 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.

The Trojans turned the ball over to Zach Crotchfelt after the walk to Federico.

The Ole Miss pitching staff retired 12 Troy sluggers by strikeout.

Closing thoughts

When the final out was recorded, the disappointment was evident. That’s the reality for a team that believed it was capable of making an even deeper run. But as the sting of the loss eventually fades, the legacy of this group will be found in something much bigger than one afternoon in Omaha. The Rebels returned the program to the College World Series, embraced every challenge along the way and reminded everyone what Ole Miss baseball looks like on the national stage. Sunday’s loss marked the end of the season, but it doesn’t diminish the journey that got them there.