Ole Miss rallies with back-to-back 8th-inning homers to reach College World Series

Will Furniss and Tristan Bissetta hit consecutive shots as Ole Miss overcame an early deficit to sweep Auburn in the super regional and earn a return trip to Omaha.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Ole Miss is headed to the College World Series after beating Auburn 5-3 on Saturday in the deciding game of their NCAA Division I baseball super regional at Samford Stadium-Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park. The Rebels clinched the trip with a decisive two-homer sequence in the bottom of the eighth inning, turning a tie game into a lead they would not relinquish.

A 2-2 stalemate gave way when Ole Miss loaded the damage late. In the bottom of the eighth, Will Furniss launched a two-run homer to right field, scoring Judd Utermark, and then Tristan Bissetta followed immediately with a solo shot to make it 5-2. Auburn later added one more run, but Ole Miss held the advantage for the final margin of 5-3.

Ole Miss had to manufacture its offense in bursts. The Rebels scored their first two runs in the sixth inning, beginning with a single by Brayden Randle and a hit-by-pitch to Dom Decker. Utermark then delivered a double that drove both runners home to tie the game at 2, setting the stage for the late eighth-inning swing.

On the mound, Ole Miss received a steady outing from Taylor Rabe, who worked 7.0 innings, struck out eight batters, and walked one while allowing two runs. The Rebels’ bullpen then took over with JP Robertson pitching the next inning, and Walker Hooks handling the save as Auburn threatened late in the ninth.

For Ole Miss, the result extended a familiar theme of postgame toughness under coach Mike Bianco. The program is headed to the College World Series for the seventh time in school history and first time since 2022, and Bianco is now credited with three College World Series appearances in his tenure. Ole Miss also noted that the run of appearances ties Tom Swayze for the most by a head coach in program history.

The immediate next step is Omaha, with Ole Miss set to wait for its first-round matchup. Beyond the trip, Saturday offered a snapshot of what Ole Miss has leaned on lately: clutch extra-base power and bullpen finishing. Bissetta, who went deep in the eighth, has 23 home runs this season and moved into second place on Ole Miss’ single-season list behind Tim Elko’s 2022 mark, while the Rebels have also produced consecutive home runs repeatedly over the postseason stretch.

Why It Matters

Ole Miss secured a return to Omaha, restarting its championship hopes after missing the 2023-2025 College World Series.
The game highlighted a late-inning power surge, a trait that tends to matter most once matchups tighten in postseason baseball.
Coach Mike Bianco’s consistency continues to show up in the postseason, with this trip tying a historical benchmark for College World Series appearances by a program head coach.
Bissetta’s surge and Ole Miss’ repeated ability to string extra-base hits together create a clear offensive identity for the next stage.
With the College World Series beginning Friday, June 12, Ole Miss’ remaining question is how the staff and lineup align after a quick super-regional run-up to tournament play.

Sources

Key Facts

Ole Miss beat Auburn 5-3 in the super regional finale to advance to the Men’s College World Series.
Will Furniss and Tristan Bissetta hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie.
Ole Miss scored two runs in the sixth inning, keyed by a two-run double from Judd Utermark.
Taylor Rabe pitched 7.0 innings for Ole Miss, striking out eight and walking one.
Walker Hooks earned the save as Auburn scored once more in the ninth inning.
The Rebels’ College World Series berth is their first since 2022 and their seventh in program history.