Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:57am
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In a thrilling Southeastern Conference opener, the Ole Miss Rebels came from behind to defeat the second-ranked Texas Longhorns 9-8 in 11 innings. Trailing 8-3 in the ninth, Tristan Bissetta hit a game-tying grand slam to force extra innings, and Owen Paino drew a bases-loaded walk in the 11th to give Ole Miss the victory.
Why it matters
This was a huge early-season win for Ole Miss, who proved they can compete with one of the top teams in the country. The Rebels showed resilience by overcoming a five-run deficit in the late innings, highlighting their talent and ability to win close games against elite opponents.
The details
Trailing 8-3 in the ninth inning, Ole Miss rallied with two outs as Tristan Bissetta crushed a grand slam to tie the game and force extra innings. In the 11th, Owen Paino drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Rebels the lead. Ole Miss’ strong infield defense, which had gone four straight games without an error, also played a key role in the victory.
The game took place on Friday, March 14, 2026 in Austin, Texas.Tristan Bissetta’s game-tying grand slam came with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.Owen Paino’s game-winning walk occurred in the top of the 11th inning.
The players
Tristan Bissetta
A key hitter for Ole Miss who hit a crucial ninth-inning grand slam to tie the game.
Owen Paino
The Ole Miss player who drew the game-winning walk in the 11th inning to give the Rebels the lead.
Judd Utermark
The Ole Miss third baseman who made highlight-reel defensive plays to prevent Texas from adding more runs.
Brayden Randle
The Ole Miss shortstop who also contributed strong defensive plays alongside Utermark.
Hunter Elliott
The Ole Miss starting pitcher who had a strong start but struggled in the middle innings before settling down.
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What they’re saying
“He was a lefty and threw a lot of sliders to Furniss. So, in the back of my mind I was looking for that slider and sure enough got it. It was awesome. I was just glad to help the team win at the end of the day.”
— Tristan Bissetta (on3.com)
“We’re really talented, defensive group. We were not playing to the best of our ability and we owned up for it. We challenged each other to get better. Whether it’s practice or even in games. That’s what you get. You get a week of error-less games and we’re just trying to stack on to this.”
— Judd Utermark, Third Baseman (on3.com)
“(Elliott) was really lights out early on and you could tell the fast ball and changeup were really, really good. I think the second time through he really had no breaking ball. The slider and the cutter just weren’t there for him and they sat on some pitches and he gave up some free bases, too. That doesn’t help, especially towards the bottom of the lineup.”
— Mike Bianco, Ole Miss Head Coach (on3.com)
What’s next
Ole Miss will look to clinch the series against Texas on Saturday, with the Rebels’ Saturday starter Cade Townsend now having the chance to secure the series victory.
The takeaway
This thrilling comeback win showcases Ole Miss’ resilience and ability to compete with the nation’s elite teams. The Rebels’ strong defense and timely hitting, led by Tristan Bissetta’s heroics, proved they can overcome deficits and win close games against top-ranked opponents like Texas.