OXFORD – Ole Miss redshirt junior Hunter Elliott threw seven shutout innings Thursday night against No. 6 Auburn, and the Rebels defeated the Tigers 9-2 in the opener of their three-game series in Oxford.
With the win, Ole Miss (36-17, 15-13 SEC) has clinched its first .500 or better record in SEC play since 2021.
Elliott’s seven innings was a season-high. He gave up just four hits, struck out eight batters and walked two.
“I would say I felt pretty good. I felt really under control. I think I really attacked early in counts, got to one strike and two strike early, which I don’t think I’ve done a particularly great job of doing this year,” Elliott said. “But yeah, I think it’s the most in control I’ve felt, I would say. So yeah, a good night.”
Senior right fielder Ryan Moerman drove in three runs. Ole Miss went 6 for 16 with runners in scoring and scored all nine of its runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Thursday night was a pitcher’s duel through the first four innings, with Elliott and Auburn (37-16, 16-12) starter Cam Tilly surrendering three combined hits. Tilly hit the first two batters of the fifth inning and eventually loaded the bases with one out. Junior third baseman Luke Hill drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly, and the Rebels scored another run later in the inning on a botched pick-play attempt by Auburn.
The first two Ole Miss batters in the sixth inning singled, ending Tilly’s outing. Junior pinch hitter Collin Reuter and Moerman each singled in runs to give the Rebels and Elliott a four-run cushion. The Rebels added five runs in the seventh, with two coming from Moerman’s bases-loaded single.
Auburn scored two runs in the ninth inning. Ole Miss pitchers held the Tigers to 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position overall.
“I thought it was as good as (Elliott’s) been. I don’t look at the velocity a ton, but the few times I looked up it seemed like he held the velocity,” Rebels head coach Mike Bianco said. “ … He was terrific, and I don’t want to take anything away from him. But I thought (pitching coach) Joel (Mangrum) called an excellent game. … But yeah, (Elliott) executed and was as sharp tonight as I’ve seen him all year.”
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