Ole Miss secured its seventh consecutive win and clinched the series against Missouri State with a 6-3 victory at Swayze Field on Saturday.
Austin Fawley played a key role for the Rebels, delivering a three-run double that broke open the game. Fawley has now driven in seven runs over the first two games of the series. Will Furniss and Tristan Bissetta each contributed two hits to Ole Miss’s offensive effort.
Starting pitcher Cade Townsend made his second start of the season and continued his strong performance, pitching four innings and matching his career high with eight strikeouts. Missouri State was unable to score while Townsend was on the mound.
Judd Utermark drew a walk in the first inning, followed by an RBI single from Bissetta, who leads Ole Miss with 14 RBIs this season—a figure that led the SEC entering this series. The Rebels have scored at least one run in each of their first six games this season, something they had not accomplished since at least 2012.
After early scoring, both teams’ pitchers held offenses in check until Missouri State tied the game with a home run in the fifth inning. Collin Reuter then sparked Ole Miss’s offense again with a double in the sixth. Hits from Furniss and Cannon Goldin loaded the bases before Fawley cleared them with his double, giving Ole Miss a 4-1 lead.
Hayden Federico added another run after reaching base on a bunt that resulted in a collision between Missouri State’s pitcher and third baseman. Taylor Rabe pitched 3.1 innings in relief for Ole Miss, allowing two more runs but striking out three batters.
Landon Koenig entered late to secure five outs, including strikeouts to end both the eighth and ninth innings for his first save as a Rebel. Rabe earned his second win of the season while Brock Lucas took the loss for Missouri State.
The final game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CT and will be available on SECN+.
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