LEAD STORY: Rebels Ride the Long Ball to Game 1 Victory at Plainsman Park
AUBURN, Ala. – No. 18 Ole Miss drew first blood in the 2026 Auburn Super Regional on Friday night, using a pair of two-run homers to power past the host Tigers 6-4 at Samford Stadium-Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park. Judd Utermark and Collin Reuter each launched two-run shots, and the Rebel pitching staff navigated constant traffic to move within one game of the College World Series.
The Rebels did not break when tested on the mound. According to D1Baseball, Ole Miss consistently wiggled out of jams, stranded runners, and then leaned on timely two-out hitting and the long ball to seize control. The victory puts the 18th-ranked Rebels in the driver’s seat as the series continues Saturday, needing just one more win to punch their ticket to Omaha.
The opener loss leaves Auburn in a must-win position facing elimination. The Plainsman Park crowd, known for creating one of the SEC’s most hostile environments in the postseason, will need to be a factor as the Tigers try to force a decisive Game 3 on Sunday.
QUICK HITS
- Robinson II Finds New Home at Florida State: Former Missouri guard Anthony Robinson II is transferring to Florida State. The All-SEC Defensive Team selection started 30 games as a junior for the Tigers and led the team in EvanMiya.com’s BPR rating. However, his offensive efficiency dipped significantly — his offensive rating fell from 120.3 to 107.6 and his three-point percentage dropped to 31.4%. At Florida State, Robinson returns closer to home and will have the opportunity to reset, likely fitting better as a third or fourth option in the Seminole offense.
- NCAA Denies Sorsby Appeal: Multiple reports indicate the NCAA has rejected Texas Tech’s appeal to reinstate quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility. The decision effectively ends Sorsby’s quest to suit up for the Red Raiders.
- SEC Super Regional Previews Drop: SEC Network analyst Jared Mitchell broke down every SEC squad’s keys to victory as the NCAA Super Regionals began Friday. Mitchell identified which SEC stars need to shine brightest across all seven league matchups to keep their seasons alive and advance to the College World Series.
- Mizzou Offseason Roster Reset Continues: The departure of Robinson II is the latest domino in a Missouri offseason focused on rebalancing the roster budget and finding consistent guard play. With T.O. Barrett emerging late in the season, the Tigers will invest its NIL dollars differently in the backcourt for the 2026-27 campaign.
PORTAL WATCH
No new transfer portal entries or commitments were reported in the last 12 hours outside of Anthony Robinson II’s previously reported move to Florida State.
RECRUITING BUZZ
No new commitments were reported in the last 12 hours.
GAMES TO WATCH
- Auburn Super Regional — Game 2: Ole Miss at Auburn, Saturday at Plainsman Park. The Rebels can clinch a College World Series berth with a win. Auburn faces elimination on its home field.
- Mississippi State at Georgia: Super Regional action continues as the Bulldogs battle the Diamond Dawgs for a spot in Omaha.
