The Ole Miss Rebels baseball team emerged from a rain‑soaked two‑day contest in Lincoln, Nebraska, edging past the Cornhuskers 6‑3 and securing a spot in the regional final that is set to begin at 7 p.m. CT on Sunday.
A rain‑delayed showdown
Will Furniss anchored the offense with three hits, while pitcher Taylor Rabe delivered a stellar six‑inning performance that included nine strikeouts, keeping the Rebels ahead throughout the contest.
Supporting the stars, Hayden Federico and Dom Decker each contributed two hits, and Owen Paino drove in a crucial run with a double in the sixth inning that shifted momentum in Ole Miss's favor.
Nebraska struck first with a two‑out solo homer in the fourth, but the Rebels answered swiftly; a hard knock from Federico set up Paino's RBI double, and later Brayden Randle's single plated a run, while the bullpen kept the pressure on.
The duel between Rabe and Nebraska's Ty Horn unfolded pitch‑for‑pitch through the first three innings, with Rabe remaining composed and racking up five strikeouts between the fourth and fifth frames.
In the seventh inning, Nebraska loaded the bases with only one out, but Rabe fanned his ninth batter of the day on eight pitches for the second out, preserving the lead.
The game was suspended again due to rain while Ole Miss held a 6‑3 advantage, and when play resumed on Sunday, Hudson Calhoun entered with two runners on in the bottom of the ninth. Paino sealed the victory with an unassisted putout at second, ending Nebraska's comeback attempt.
With the win, Ole Miss now awaits the winner of the Nebraska‑Arizona State matchup, a potential clash with another powerhouse that could shape the next round of the tournament.