Ole Miss baseball opened its series against Missouri State with an 11-6 win at Swayze Field on Friday night. The Rebels, ranked No. 16, improved their season record to 6-0.
Austin Fawley hit a grand slam, marking the second consecutive game in which Ole Miss has recorded a grand slam. Judd Utermark had achieved the same feat in the previous game against Jackson State. This is the first time since at least 2014 that Ole Miss has had grand slams in back-to-back games.
Utermark contributed two home runs during the game, bringing his season total to five and recording three runs batted in. He has now hit four home runs over the past two games. Will Furniss reached base every time he was at bat, finishing with two hits and three walks, and matched his career high by scoring three runs.
Dom Decker, Tristan Bissetta, and Collin Reuter each added two hits for Ole Miss and combined for four RBIs.
Hunter Elliott started on the mound for Ole Miss, pitching 4.2 innings and striking out five batters. Hudson Calhoun entered as a reliever and pitched 3.1 innings, earning his first win of the season while striking out five of sixteen Missouri State hitters.
After allowing a run in the first inning, Ole Miss responded with Decker doubling down the right field line. Utermark was hit by a pitch before Furniss singled to load the bases. Bissetta drove in Decker with a single before Fawley’s grand slam cleared the bases.
In the second inning, Utermark’s fourth homer of the year brought in two more runs to give Ole Miss a six-run lead.
Missouri State narrowed that margin by scoring twice in the fourth inning but Reuter restored a six-run advantage for Ole Miss later that frame with his second double of the year, driving home Decker and Furniss.
Reuter added another RBI with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning as Furniss scored again for his third run of the night.
Missouri State scored again in the eighth inning before Utermark responded with his second home run of the game—a solo shot that marked Ole Miss’s final run.
Landon Waters closed out pitching duties for Ole Miss by striking out two batters and inducing a popup to secure victory. Missouri State starter Michael Yusypchuk took the loss.
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m., streamed on SECN+.
