Ole Miss takes 2-0 lead
Pitcher Hunter Elliott got the start for the Rebels in game five of the 2026 Men’s College World Series. Elliot’s first test came against Aaron Piasecki. Piasecki opened the game with a double to the gap in left. Elliott quickly responded by striking out the next three batters he faced to get out of the inning with no damage.
Pitcher Tommy Egan was on the mound for the Trojans and he faced Dom Decker to start his day. Decker doubled on the first pitch he say, blasting it by the first baseman Cavill, a wild pitch advanced Decker to third. Judd Utermark brought Decker home with a single to left to give Ole Miss a 1-0 lead in the first. The momentum slowed temporarily in the following at-bat as Will Furniss grounded into a double play.
Tristan Bissetta drew a walk the next at-bat. Following the walk, Hayden Federico added another run for the Rebels with a double to the corner in left, extending the lead 2-0, Federico stole third base a few pitches later. Owen Paino was sat down on strikes to end the inning.
Troy ties it 2-2, Ole Miss answers with 4-2
Steven Meier led off the top of the second for Troy and drew a walk to give the Trojans a base runner. Following a pop out from Drew Nelson, Sean Darnell tied the game with a two run home run to right field. Jabe Boroff followed with a walk to give Troy another base runner.
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A strike out to Houston Markham and a fly out from Piasecki ended the inning for the Trojans. Austin Fawley led off the bottom of the second for the Rebels with a single to center. Brayden Randle regained the lead for Ole Miss with a two run home run to right field, giving the Rebels a 4-2 lead. The Rebels were unable to add anymore runs to their lead in the second inning, as the next three Ole Miss batters were retired in order.
Ole Miss extends lead to 6-2
Elliott had a strong top of the third, retiring three of the four batters he faced and adding two more strike outs to his total. Furniss led off the bottom of the third for the Rebels and drew a walk. Following the walk, Troy made a pitching change and brought it Hayden Smith.
Smith began his day with a strike out to Bissetta. Following the strike out, Federico was able to draw a walk to put runners at first and second with one out. A strikeout to Paino and a pop out from Fawley ended the inning.
Following a fly out from Nelson to open the top of the fourth, Darnell was hit by a pitch to give the Trojans a base runner. After a strikeout to Boroff, Markham singled to left to put runners at first and second with two outs. Unfortunately for the Trojans, Piasecki grounded out at first for the final out of the inning to strand the runners.
Randle led off the bottom of the fourth for Ole Miss and delivered a single to right. Reuter followed with a two run home run to right to extend the Ole Miss lead 6-2. Following a walk to Decker, Troy went back to the bullpen, this time bringing in Noah Thigpen.
Thigpen began his day by striking out Utermark and Furniss for the first two outs of the inning. Bissetta kept the inning alive with a single to left, putting runners at first and second. The inning ended the following at-bat with a ground out from Federico.
Trojans surge for 3 runs, cut deficit to 6-5
Pyne led off the top of the fifth for the Trojans and delivered a single to center. Following a strike out to Cavill, Janicki blasted a single up the middle to put runners at first and second with one out. Following a strike out to Meier, Nelson reached base on a walk to load the bases for Darnell with two outs.
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The Trojans scored a run after a balk was called against Elliott, making the score 6-3. Darnell drove in two more runs for Troy with a single to left, cutting the Ole Miss lead to just one (6-5). Boroff followed with a single to left to put runners at first and second. The Rebels then went to the bullpen and brought in JP Robertson. Markham grounded out to first to end the inning. Thigpen retired the Rebels in order in the bottom of the fifth.
Trojans take control
Robertson retired the Trojans in order in the top of the sixth, adding another strike out to his total. Reuter opened the bottom of the sixth with a single to left.
Decker popped up the next at-bat for the first out of the inning. Following a strike out to Utermark, Furniss drew a walk to put runners at first and second with two outs. Bissetta was unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position as he was retired on a fly out to end the inning.
Janicki tied the game on the first pitch of the seventh inning with a solo shot to left to make the score 6-6. Following a ground out from Meier, Nelson singled to left. Following the hit, Ole Miss made another trip to the bullpen, this time bringing in Walker Hooks. Darnell followed with a walk to put runners at first and second.
Boroff took the lead for the Trojans with a double down the left field line to score two, making the score 8-6. Markham added another run for Troy with a single up the middle, making the score 9-6.
Piasecki grounded to the short stop and was able to reach first base but the out was recorded at second, Piasecki later stole second base. Pyne struck out to end the inning, leaving Piasecki stranded at second base to cap off a four run inning for the Trojans.
Federico blooped a single to shallow center to open the bottom of the seventh. Paino grounded out but was able to advance Federico to third with just one out. Fawley added a run for the Rebels with a single to left to cut the lead to two (9-7). The Rebels were unable to add anymore runs in the seventh after a fly out to Randle and a ground out to Reuter ended the inning.
Trojans push lead to 12-7, Ole Miss gets one back
Cavill opened the top of the eighth with a solo home run to left to extend the Trojan lead 10-7. Following the home run, Ole Miss went back to the bullpen, this time bringing in Wil Libbert. Libbert was able to get two quick outs to begin his day, but walked Nelson right after.
Darnell followed with a single to right to put runners at the corners with two outs for Boroff. Boroff popped up to left but the ball was dropped Paino to score two more runs and make the score 12-7. Markham popped up to left to end the inning.
Decker led off the bottom of the eighth for the Rebels and lined out to left. Following a strike out to Utermark, Furniss blasted a home run to left to cut the lead to four (12-8). Bissetta was retired on strikes to end the inning.
Troy closes out 12-8 victory
Pitcher Landon Waters entered the game for the Rebels to start the top of the ninth. Piasecki singled to right to open the inning. Pyne followed with a walk to put runners at first and second. Waters was able to retire Cavill on strikes the very next at-bat. Janicki and Diaz were both retired to end the top of the ninth.
Frederico singled to center to start the bottom of the ninth. Troy then went to the bullpen and brought in Zach Crotchfelt. Crotchfelt struck out Paino for the first out. Fawley flew out to the warning track in center for the second out. Crotchfelt struck out Randle to end the game and eliminate the Rebels, beating them 12-8.
What’s next
Troy awaits the loser of Sunday’s nightcap between WVU and North Carolina. First pitch for the second and final game of the day is set for 7 p.m. from Charles Schwab Field.
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