A Thrilling Extra-Innings Battle
The Ole Miss Rebels baseball squad clinched a spot in the NCAA Super Regional after a dramatic 5-4 victory over Arizona State that stretched into the tenth inning. The win, achieved in Lincoln, Nebraska, underscored the team’s resilience and depth as they completed a sweep of the Lincoln Regional.
Coach Mike Bianco’s men entered the regional with a clear game plan, dropping all three opponents, including two straight wins over the Sun Devils. The series was marked by clutch hitting, solid pitching, and a never‑say‑die attitude that kept the Rebels alive when the odds seemed stacked against them.
Offensively, the Rebels were led by senior slugger Brayden Randle, who went 2‑for‑4 with an RBI and five hits across the regional. Freshman phenom Tristan Bissetta added power with his 22nd home run of the season, tying Judd Utermark for second place in Ole Miss history for most homers in a single year.
Austin Fawley delivered a pivotal game‑tying double in the seventh frame, while Cade Townsend set the tone on the mound, allowing just one run over five innings while striking out seven batters. Relievers Wil Libbert and JP Robertson combined for four strikeouts without surrendering a run, preserving the tie into the final inning.
Arizona State struck first with a leadoff homer and a two‑run single in the second, but Ole Miss answered in the same inning when Randle drove in Hayden Federico with a single that loaded the bases. Bissetta’s third‑inning blast knotted the game at three, and the Sun Devils briefly retook the lead in the fourth on a wild pitch before the Rebels rallied again.
The turning point arrived in the bottom of the tenth. After Collin Reuter walked as a pinch hitter and was replaced by Cannon Goldin, Goldin advanced to second on a wild pitch. Luke Romine’s single up the middle moved Goldin to third, and Dom Decker’s deep fly to left field gave Goldin time to tag up and score the winning run, sealing a 5‑4 triumph.
With the regional title secured, the Rebels now await the outcome of the Auburn Regional to determine whether they will host a Super Regional for the first time since 2009. A home‑field advantage would mark a historic milestone for the program and its passionate fan base.