Ole Miss entered a critical three‑game series against Alabama with its NCAA Tournament hopes hanging in the balance after a narrow 5‑4 defeat in the opener.
The Rebels answered quickly, plating a run in the first inning on a sacrifice groundout before exploding for five runs in the fifth, highlighted by Owen Paino’s leadoff solo homer that sparked the rally.
Will Furniss then delivered a three‑run homer in the top of the fifth, pushing the lead to 5‑0, and Austin Fawley capped the burst with a two‑run blast in the eighth that stretched the advantage to 7‑0.
Rabe’s dominant outing
On the mound, pitcher Taylor Rabe was virtually untouchable, facing the minimum through four innings, striking out nine batters and fanning the side in the opening frame, while Alabama remained scoreless.
The performance not only swung momentum but also secured a streaming slot on SEC Network+, giving fans a chance to follow the decisive doubleheader that could determine Ole Miss’s host bid.