The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, May 14
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
6 PM
Ole Miss
35-19, 0
4
at
5
Alabama
36-17, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ole Miss | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
| Alabama | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 5 | 8 | 0 |
Comeback Falls Short for No. 15 Baseball In Tuscaloosa
5/14/2026 | Baseball
BY JEFF ROBERSON
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama claimed the Southeastern Conference series opener Thursday night with a 5-4 win against Ole Miss in a battle that came down to the last out.
Trailing 5-3 in the top of the ninth inning, an Austin Fawley single for the Rebels scored a run with two outs, but that was all the runs the Rebels were able to get.
Ole Miss had led 3-2 through the top of the seventh inning, but the Crimson Tide scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead at 5-3.
With runners on first and second and no outs in that bottom of the seventh, Rebel starter Hunter Elliott's night was done, and reliever Hudson Calhoun entered the game. Elliott exited the contest after a solid performance, allowing just two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.
A JoJo Williamson single to left loaded the bases in the seventh for the Crimson Tide. A Bryce Fowler single to right scored one run to tie the game 3-3, and there were still no outs in the inning.
A fielder's choice to third, where Judd Utermark stepped on the bag, was the first out of the inning, but a run scored and it was 4-3 Alabama. Calhoun got a strikeout for the second out of the inning as runners moved up to second and third. After a walk to load the bases, Calhoun issued another walk to push the Alabama lead to 5-3.
Landon Waters entered the game for Calhoun with bases loaded and two outs and got the final out of the inning, a fly ball to right. With neither team scoring in the eighth inning, the game moved to the top of the ninth. But the Rebels got only one run in the inning and the game was over.
It had been a quick start in this one for the Rebels, however, as Ole Miss' Dom Decker hit the first pitch of the game over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead.
After Alabama scored two runs in the bottom of the first on a Justin Lebron two-run homer, the Rebels tied the game 2-2 in the top of the second. An Austin Fawley single through the left side scored Hayden Federico who had gotten aboard on a single to right.
Elliott got out of a bit of jam in the bottom of the fifth with no damage, and Ole Miss responded to take the lead in the top of the sixth. Tristan Bissetta led off with his 20th homer of the season, a shot over the wall in right center.
With the score 3-2 Ole Miss through the top of the sixth, Elliott went back out for the bottom of the sixth and took care of the Crimson Tide, three up, three down.
But Ole Miss failed to score in the top of the seventh, and in the bottom of the inning, things unraveled a bit as the Rebels trailed by two heading to the eighth.
Elliott is now 5-3 this season after the loss, while Taylor Fay (9-3) got the win for Alabama. The Tide's Matthew Heiberger got his fourth save of 2026.
Ole Miss had nine hits and Alabama had eight in the series opener.
The Rebels and Crimson Tide meet again at 6 p.m. Friday.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on X at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissBaseball, on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemissbsb and on TikTok at @olemissbsb. Also, follow head coach Mike Bianco on X at @CoachMikeBianco.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama claimed the Southeastern Conference series opener Thursday night with a 5-4 win against Ole Miss in a battle that came down to the last out.
Trailing 5-3 in the top of the ninth inning, an Austin Fawley single for the Rebels scored a run with two outs, but that was all the runs the Rebels were able to get.
Ole Miss had led 3-2 through the top of the seventh inning, but the Crimson Tide scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead at 5-3.
With runners on first and second and no outs in that bottom of the seventh, Rebel starter Hunter Elliott's night was done, and reliever Hudson Calhoun entered the game. Elliott exited the contest after a solid performance, allowing just two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.
A JoJo Williamson single to left loaded the bases in the seventh for the Crimson Tide. A Bryce Fowler single to right scored one run to tie the game 3-3, and there were still no outs in the inning.
A fielder's choice to third, where Judd Utermark stepped on the bag, was the first out of the inning, but a run scored and it was 4-3 Alabama. Calhoun got a strikeout for the second out of the inning as runners moved up to second and third. After a walk to load the bases, Calhoun issued another walk to push the Alabama lead to 5-3.
Landon Waters entered the game for Calhoun with bases loaded and two outs and got the final out of the inning, a fly ball to right. With neither team scoring in the eighth inning, the game moved to the top of the ninth. But the Rebels got only one run in the inning and the game was over.
It had been a quick start in this one for the Rebels, however, as Ole Miss' Dom Decker hit the first pitch of the game over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead.
After Alabama scored two runs in the bottom of the first on a Justin Lebron two-run homer, the Rebels tied the game 2-2 in the top of the second. An Austin Fawley single through the left side scored Hayden Federico who had gotten aboard on a single to right.
Elliott got out of a bit of jam in the bottom of the fifth with no damage, and Ole Miss responded to take the lead in the top of the sixth. Tristan Bissetta led off with his 20th homer of the season, a shot over the wall in right center.
With the score 3-2 Ole Miss through the top of the sixth, Elliott went back out for the bottom of the sixth and took care of the Crimson Tide, three up, three down.
But Ole Miss failed to score in the top of the seventh, and in the bottom of the inning, things unraveled a bit as the Rebels trailed by two heading to the eighth.
Elliott is now 5-3 this season after the loss, while Taylor Fay (9-3) got the win for Alabama. The Tide's Matthew Heiberger got his fourth save of 2026.
Ole Miss had nine hits and Alabama had eight in the series opener.
The Rebels and Crimson Tide meet again at 6 p.m. Friday.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss baseball on X at @OleMissBSB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissBaseball, on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemissbsb and on TikTok at @olemissbsb. Also, follow head coach Mike Bianco on X at @CoachMikeBianco.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tyler Fay (9-3)
L: Elliott, Hunter (5-3)
S: Matthew Heiberger (4)
Batting:
2B: Pacella, Daniel 1
HR: Decker, Dom 1 ; Bissetta, Tristan 1
RBI: Decker, Dom 1 ; Bissetta, Tristan 1 ; Fawley, Austin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Decker, Dom 1 ; Bissetta, Tristan 1 ; Federico, Hayden 2
SB: Moseley, Brett 1
CS: Pacella, Daniel 1
Batting:
2B: Bryce Fowler 1
HR: Justin Lebron 1
RBI: Bryce Fowler 1 ; Justin Lebron 3 ; John Lemm 1
SH: Luke Vaughn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bryce Fowler 2 ; Justin Lebron 1 ; Brennan Holt 1 ; Luke Vaughn 1
SB: Bryce Fowler 1 ; Justin Lebron 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballAll 49 of Judd Utermark's Record-Breaking Home Runs
Wednesday, May 13
PRESSER | Mike Bianco - UT Martin Postgame (5/12/26)
Tuesday, May 12
PRESSER | Judd Utermark - UT Martin Postgame (5/12/26)
Tuesday, May 12
HIGHLIGHTS: Baseball vs. UT Martin (5/12/26)
Tuesday, May 12