HOOVER, Alabama – Ole Miss redshirt junior starter Hunter Elliott once again did what he does best in the postseason. He delivered a gem.
Elliott, playing in his first postseason game since the 2022 College World Series, tossed a 5 1/3-inning, no-earned-runs allowed masterpiece against No. 10 seed Florida and led the No. 7 seed Rebels to a 3-1 victory over the Gators Wednesday in the SEC Tournament. The win is Ole Miss’ (38-18) first in the conference tournament since 2021.
With the win, the Rebels advance to the tournament quarterfinals against No. 2 seed Arkansas on Friday.
Ole Miss’ pitchers – Elliott, junior Mason Morris and senior closer Connor Spencer – held Florida to 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position in the game. The Rebels scored all three of their runs with two outs in the fourth inning.
“I don’t know that I ever really think about it. I do love pitching in big games. I don’t know what it is. I think it’s just the competitor in me,” Elliott said. “ … And when the lights are brightest and the stage is the biggest, I really want it.”
Elliott was one of the stars on the Rebels’ national title-winning team three years ago as a true freshman. But the Tupelo native missed most of the previous two years with an elbow injury and took some time to round into form in 2025.
But as was the case three summers ago, Elliott was at his best when the games mattered most. He allowed two hits, struck out eight batters and walked one. He made 98 pitches and stranded two runners on third base despite the Rebels making three errors behind him.
Junior second baseman Judd Utermark watched Elliott deliver the Rebels their first College World Series crown on television before he ever got to campus. But he had never seen his teammate in a postseason situation before.
The in-person experience was worth the wait.
“I’ve seen him on TV, and it’s a totally different thing. He was great tonight,” Utermark said. “ … We did not play good defense behind him, which just shows how good his pitching was tonight. But what makes me … most proud and most happy is how good of a person he is, and such a leader on this team.”
A walk and error put runners on the corners for Florida (38-20) in the first inning, but Elliott and his defense picked off the runner at third to end the inning. Utermark led off the bottom of the second with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout, but sophomore designated hitter Campbell Smithwick struck out to end the Rebels’ threat.
Back-to-back two-out doubles from Utermark and senior centerfielder Isaac Humphrey gave the Rebels their first run, and a Smithwick single and Florida fielding error plated two more in the pivotal fourth inning.
A double, fielder’s choice and error put Florida on the board with no outs in the fifth, but Elliott was able to limit the damage to the lone run. After hitting a batter in the sixth, Elliott was replaced by Morris. Morris induced a double-play on his first pitch to end the inning.
Morris and Spencer pitched 3 2/3 combined innings and allowed two hits and no runs.
“It was a well-pitched game all the way around,” Rebels head coach Mike Bianco said. “ … We were able to just put a few hits together. The double-double-single by Utermark and Humphrey, Smithwick, obviously, was huge. But just a really well-played game. I’m glad Hunter Elliott’s on our team.”
Ole Miss and Arkansas’ quarterfinal matchup will start at 3 p.m. today. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
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