The Season is on the Line, and Hunter Elliott is on the Mound
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OMAHA, Neb. — There are no second chances now.
After dropping its College World Series opener to North Carolina on Friday, Ole Miss enters Sunday’s matchup against Troy knowing a loss ends its season while a win keeps its national championship hopes alive.
First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT at Charles Schwab Field with ESPN carrying the broadcast.
The Rebels (41-22) fell 6-2 to the Tar Heels despite carrying a late lead into the game’s final innings. Troy (38-31) suffered a 7-5 loss to West Virginia and now finds itself in the same position as Ole Miss: one defeat away from heading home.
For Ole Miss, the ball will be handed to a familiar figure in a familiar situation. Hunter Elliott will make the start for the Rebels, and history suggests that’s a good place to begin.
Ole Miss is 7-0 all-time in NCAA Tournament games started by Elliott, a remarkable postseason track record that stretches back to the Rebels’ national championship run in 2022. The junior left-hander remains the last active player from that title-winning club and started the championship-clinching game that delivered the first national title in program history.
As the stakes increase, Elliott says the approach won’t. He spoke with media during Ole Miss’ open practice Saturday at Creighton University.
“I don’t think the mindset is going to change much. I think that’s why a lot of people sometimes fail in win-or-go-home situations. Because they think they’ve got to change what they’ve been doing all year.“
Hunter Elliott on facing Troy
Elliott’s last outing came in the Super Regional opener against Auburn, where he battled through traffic on the bases and helped set the tone for the Rebels’ eventual sweep. He pitched for 4 1/3 innings, allowed two earned runs and walked four, along with tallying two strikeouts.
While he delivered in key moments, the left-hander believes there are areas that must improve against a dangerous Troy lineup.
“I need to get ahead in counts a little better. I need to control the first pitch. Throw a lot of first-pitch strikes. The main thing is get ahead and put guys away. I didn’t do that great the last start.“
Hunter Elliott on what he needs to do vs. Troy
Troy Has Proven It Belongs
The Trojans may not have arrived in Omaha with the national profile of some of the other eight teams, but their postseason run has earned plenty of respect.
After losing their NCAA Tournament opener to Miami, Troy reeled off six straight victories to reach the College World Series. Included in that stretch were back-to-back wins over Florida in Gainesville and a Super Regional sweep over Little Rock that punched the program’s ticket to Omaha.
Even in Friday’s loss to West Virginia, the Trojans remained in contention deep into the game before the Mountaineers pulled away late.
Containing Troy’s lineup will be one of the biggest challenges facing Ole Miss.
The Trojans have been one of the most explosive offenses in the NCAA Tournament, averaging nearly 10 runs per game during postseason play. They enter Sunday’s matchup with 91 home runs and a .291 team batting average.
Sun Belt Player of the Year Jimmy Janicki leads the attack. The sophomore catcher hit .343 during the regular season and blasted 20 home runs, making him one of the most dangerous hitters remaining in Omaha.
Troy has repeatedly shown the ability to score in bunches, particularly when facing elimination. The Trojans erupted for 16 runs and 10 runs in consecutive victories over Florida during regional play, demonstrating the offensive firepower that carried them this far.
Elliott’s Presence Matters
Statistics tell only part of Elliott’s story. His postseason record, championship experience and ability to perform in pressure situations have made him one of the most respected players in the Ole Miss clubhouse.
Head coach Mike Bianco once again emphasized what separates Elliott from many pitchers.
“He’s an ace in every sense of the word, but I think the true aces are the guys that just win when you run them out there. They seem to have success even when they don’t have their best stuff. Even when things maybe don’t go their way.“
Coach Mike Bianco on Hunter Elliott
Bianco has often pointed to Elliott’s toughness as one of his defining traits, and Sunday’s assignment will require plenty of it.
The Rebels will need to limit free passes after issuing seven free baserunners against North Carolina. They will also need to capitalize on scoring opportunities after struggling to create offensive separation in their opener.
Opportunity Still Exists
Despite the disappointment of Saturday’s loss, Ole Miss remains where every team wants to be in June: still playing baseball. The Rebels have spent much of the season responding to adversity. They navigated one of the nation’s toughest schedules, survived the Lincoln Regional, and swept Auburn on the road to earn a return trip to Omaha.
Now another challenge awaits. The margin for error is gone, and the season is on the line.
And Ole Miss will turn to the same pitcher who has helped guide the program through some of its biggest moments.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
