AUBURN, Ala. – Ole Miss hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of eighth inning to sweep the Auburn Super Regional, beating the No. 4 Tigers 5-3 Saturday at Plainsman Park.
“We found a way to negotiate a couple runs and got a lead. Never could build on it,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “To their credit, I’d want Alex (Petrovic) and Jackson (Sanders) on that mound for us today. A couple days in row, they did a little more offensively and we couldn’t catch a rhythm with that and then outpitched us a little bit, too. Some of that credit for slowing our offense has to go their way.”
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Will Furniss hit a two-run homer over the wall in right to put Ole Miss ahead. Tristan Bissetta followed with a solo shot to right to give the Rebels a three-run lead heading to the ninth.
Bub Terrell led off the top of the ninth with a single off Ole Miss closer Walker Hooks, then with one out, Cade Belyeu was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Taylor Belza’s sacrifice fly scored Terrell to bring the Tigers within two, but a grounder to third ended the game to give Hooks his second save of the super regional and ninth of the season.
For the third straight game, Auburn fans set a Plainsman Park attendance record, packing the park to the tune of 10,635.
“I love the momentum we’ve built thanks to our fans,” Thompson said. “The last two weeks have been pretty awesome for us. A grind, but nonetheless a lot of good memories.”
With one out in the top of the first inning, Eric Guevera singled up the middle on the first pitch he saw but Ole Miss turned its third double play of the super regional to end the inning.
Auburn starter Alex Petrovic needed only nine pitches to retire the Rebels in the bottom of the first, benefiting from flashy defense at first, second and third base.
The visiting team in game two, Auburn led off the top of the second with singles from Chris Rembert and Ethin Bingaman, but Ole Miss starter Taylor Rabe retired the next three Tigers, two by strikeout, to end the threat.
Auburn’s impressive infield defense continued in the bottom of the second inning, with Rembert showcasing his range at second.
Petrovic recorded his first two strikeouts in the bottom of the third, setting down the Rebels in order through the first three innings.
Auburn scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth when Terrell singled to right field with runners on the corners to bring home Rembert. When Terrell then got in a rundown between first and second, Bingaman raced home from third, beating the throw with a head-first slide for a 2-0 Auburn lead.
Shortstop Brandon McCraine joined the highlight parade in the bottom of fourth, ranging up the middle to retire Ole Miss leadoff hitter Dom Decker, then turning an inning-ending double play after a walk to help Petrovic face the minimum through four innings.
“You want the ball in a play as a pitcher, having a phenomenal defense behind you is huge,” Petrovic said. “I have so much confidence in our defense that I’m able to attack the zone, knowing they can get outs and it looks easy.”
Hayden Federico produced the Rebels’ first hit in the bottom of the fifth, but the Ole Miss center fielder wandered too far off first base and was tagged out, and Petrovic struck out the next two batters to strand a runner at third.
Ole Miss tied the score at 2-2 on Judd Utermark’s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth, ending Petrovic’s outing after 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts.
Jackson Sanders relieved Petrovic, retiring the first two batters he faced to strand Utermark at second. Sanders struck out the side in the seventh, pitching around a pair of HBPs.
JP Robertson (5-1) relieved Rabe to start the eighth inning, retiring the first two Tigers before issuing back-to-back walks to Chase Fralick and Rembert.
Bingaman drilled an 0-1 pitch to center field but Federico saved two runs by making a leaping catch on the warning track to end the inning.
“That seemed like that was going to make it harder because they absolutely pitched it great,” Thompson said of the momentum-swinging grab. “That ball was hit really hard. They made us pay a little bit offensively, got more done, and I absolutely think they did the same thing on the mound. The combination of those two made it hard.”
Sanders (5-2) took the loss, allowing three runs in 2.0 innings. Ryan Hetzler recorded the final two outs.
One of only two teams in the country to host consecutive super regionals, Auburn (42-22) ends its season while Ole Miss (41-21) advances to the College World Series for the seventh time.
“These past two years have been the most fun I’ve had playing baseball with these guys,” said Guevara, one of Auburn’s captains. “Having young guys out there and they’re not scared of the moment. Being there for those guys has meant the world to me and I will cherish these past two seasons for the rest of my life.”
“We’ve got a great nucleus of this ballclub,” Thompson said. “We’ll visit with these guys and keep moving forward. Excited for the future. We’re doing some things at a high level. We have a ton of momentum, but you have to earn it. I think we’re good enough. I have no regrets. I know it’s grown. I’m excited about that. I saw a lot of growth with everybody. To be on this ride with them, I appreciate them for that. I wish it hadn’t ended for us, but nonetheless, they’ve been amazing to be with.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer