Ole Miss Baseball Defeats Kentucky in Series Opener, Led by Bissetta and Elliott

OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss Rebels defeated the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats 5-0 Thursday night at Swayze Field, securing a strong start to their Southeastern Conference series. Ole Miss right fielder Tristan Bissetta powered the offense with two home runs, while starting pitcher Hunter Elliott delivered a superb performance on the mound.

Elliott Shines in Dominant Start

Hunter Elliott pitched 6.1 innings, allowing no runs on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks. He faced just 24 batters, effectively managing the game and keeping Kentucky’s offense at bay. Elliott improved to 3-0 on the season with the win. Clarion Ledger reported that this outing required 94 pitches, second only to his 97-pitch performance against Missouri State on February 20.

Bissetta’s Two-Homer Night

Tristan Bissetta continued his impressive season, launching his 12th and 13th home runs of the year. His first home run came in the bottom of the first inning with a runner on base and he added another solo shot in the fifth. Bissetta now leads the team with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs. The Daily Journal highlighted the significance of Bissetta’s performance.

Rebels Extend Lead

The Rebels extended their lead in the sixth inning when Austin Fawley doubled and then scored on a triple by Brayden Randle. Will Furniss added a home run in the eighth inning to provide additional insurance. Ole Miss finished the game with eight hits compared to Kentucky’s four.

Relief Pitching Seals the Victory

Following Elliott’s departure, reliever Taylor Rabe finished the game, pitching 2.2 innings without allowing a run or a hit. He recorded five strikeouts and one walk, earning his second save of the season. Kentucky used four pitchers in the game, with starter Ben Cleaver (1-1) taking the loss.

Looking Ahead

Ole Miss (18-5, 2-2 SEC) will continue its series against Kentucky (18-3, 3-1) on Friday with a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch at Swayze Field. Sports Illustrated confirms the schedule for the remainder of the series.