Hoover, AL – May 23, 2025 – The Ole Miss Rebels (39-18) defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks (43-13) by a score of 5-2 today at the Hoover Met in the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament. The game, played under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 84 degrees, lasted 3 hours and 7 minutes.
Ole Miss wasted no time establishing a lead, plating all five of their runs in the top of the first inning. After Mitchell Sanford (#4) walked and Luke Hill (#7) reached on a throwing error by shortstop Wehiwa Aloy (#9), Judd Utermark (#27) singled to left field to drive in the first run. Ryan Moerman (#18) followed with an RBI single to right field. Catcher Austin Fawley (#24) capped the outburst with a three-run home run to left field. All five runs in the inning were unearned due to the error. Austin Fawley (#24) described his approach in that key at-bat: “obviously I was sitting fastball… He hung the changeup, and I made him pay”.
Arkansas responded with runs in the first and second innings. In the bottom of the first, Kuhio Aloy (#25) grounded out to shortstop to score Wehiwa Aloy (#9). Second baseman Cam Kozeal (#8) hit an inside-the-park home run to right center in the bottom of the second, narrowing the deficit to 5-2, where it would remain for the rest of the game. Cam Kozeal (#8) recounted his home run: “I was rounding first and I saw them both dive. I saw them both on the ground and was thinking three out of the box because it’s a big ballpark”.
A scary moment occurred in the second inning when Ole Miss outfielders Ryan Moerman (#18) and Isaac Humphrey (#51) collided chasing a ball, causing a 9-minute delay. Both players remained in the game initially, though Ryan Moerman (#18) was later replaced by Hayden Federico (#9). Judd Utermark (#27) commented, “Obviously you hate to see a collision like that. But yeah, I think there’s a sense of rally around”. Coach Mike Bianco noted Isaac Humphrey (#51) “toughed it out” despite bothering his shoulder and arm.
Ole Miss pitching was stellar after the early Arkansas runs. Starter Riley Maddox (#2) earned the win (6-5), pitching 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out seven. Coach Mike Bianco called Riley Maddox’s (#2) performance “really, really good” and said the key for him has been locating his pitches. Austin Fawley (#24) praised the Ole Miss pitchers, stating, “They threw all their pitches for a strike and think that’s the main thing”. Will McCausland (#17), Mason Morris (#21), and Connor Spencer (#22) provided scoreless relief, with Spencer (#22) earning his sixth save. Coach Bianco commended the bullpen, saying they were “outstanding, much like Wednesday night. Just terrific”.
Arkansas starter Zach Root (#33) took the loss (6-5), pitching 4.0 innings and allowing five runs (one earned) on seven hits. Coach Dave Van Horn felt Root (#33) “got a couple back bad breaks in the first inning” and “should have been off the field pretty quick a couple innings in”. He praised his relievers, Gabe Gaeckle (#20), Cole Gibler (#29), and Christian Foutch (#46), stating they “did a tremendous job” coming in and shutting down the offense. Zach Root (#33) commented on his catcher, Ryder Helfrick (#27), saying he is “the best catcher I’ve thrown to my entire life. He calls a great game”.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn acknowledged the team “didn’t field the ball all year and we’ve turned double plays, and we didn’t do it today, and it cost us”. Looking ahead to regionals, he told his team to “learn from today’s game” and “tighten up as a group”. Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco was “proud of the guys” for their performance and the opportunity to stay in Hoover.
Ole Miss advances in the tournament, while Arkansas will await its NCAA Tournament regional fate.
Please note: This was created using information drawn from the provided source materials and may contain language generated by artificial intelligence.
