Amber Aniston • June 15, 2026

Troy Rallies Past Ole Miss to Stay Alive in College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. — Troy continued its remarkable postseason run Sunday afternoon, overcoming a four-run deficit to defeat Ole Miss 12–8 in a College World Series elimination game at Charles Schwab Field. The Trojans scored seven unanswered runs over the final three innings and used a dominant bullpen performance to eliminate the Rebels and advance in Omaha. 


The victory improved Troy to 39–31 and kept the Trojans alive in the College World Series. Ole Miss finished its season at 41–23 after making its seventh College World Series appearance and third under head coach Mike Bianco. 


Rebels Build Early Lead 


Ole Miss came out aggressively and appeared poised to extend its season. 


The Rebels struck first in the opening inning when Dom Decker reached on a two-base error and later scored on an RBI single by Judd Utermark. Hayden Federico followed with a run-scoring double to give Ole Miss an early 2–0 advantage. 


Troy answered in the second inning when Sean Darnell blasted a two-run home run to right-center field, tying the game at 2–2. 


The Rebels quickly regained control in the bottom half of the inning. 


Austin Fawley singled before Brayden Randle launched a two-run home run, restoring a 4–2 lead. Ole Miss extended the advantage again in the fourth inning when Collin Reuter crushed a two-run homer to right field, pushing the score to 6–2. 


At that point, the Rebels appeared firmly in command. 


Troy Begins the Comeback 


The Trojans refused to go away. 


In the fifth inning, Josh Pyne and Jimmy Janicki reached base before Drew Nelson drew a two-out walk to load the bases. A balk by Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott brought home one run, and Darnell followed with a two-run single through the left side to cut the deficit to 6–5. 


The rally ended Elliott’s afternoon after 4.2 innings. 


Despite striking out nine batters, the Ole Miss ace could not hold off Troy’s offensive momentum. 


Janicki Ignites the Seventh-Inning Surge 


The game completely changed in the seventh inning. 


Janicki opened the frame by launching a solo home run that tied the score at 6–6. The blast was his 21st home run of the season and his second homer in Omaha. 


After Nelson reached base and Darnell drew a walk, Jabe Boroff delivered the biggest hit of the game. The Troy slugger ripped a two-run double down the left-field line, giving the Trojans their first lead at 8–6. 


Houston Markham followed with an RBI single to extend the advantage to 9–6. 


In just one inning, Troy had erased a four-run deficit and seized control of the elimination game. 


Trojans Add Insurance 


Troy continued to apply pressure in the eighth inning. 


Blake Cavill launched a solo home run to left field before Nelson walked and Darnell singled. A dropped popup later allowed two additional runs to score, extending the Trojans’ lead to 12–7. 


The five-run cushion proved more than enough for Troy’s bullpen. 


Ole Miss managed only one more run when Will Furniss hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, but the Rebels could not mount another rally. 


Darnell Leads Offensive Attack 


Sean Darnell delivered one of the best performances of his career. 


The senior second baseman finished 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. He reached base five times and was directly responsible for much of Troy’s comeback. 


Boroff added two critical RBIs with his go-ahead double, while Janicki’s game-tying homer shifted momentum entirely in Troy’s favor. 


The Trojans finished with 12 runs after trailing by four runs midway through the game. 


Thigpen Shuts Down the Rebels 


While the offense grabbed headlines, Troy received an outstanding relief effort from Noah Thigpen. 


The sophomore right-hander entered in the fourth inning and delivered five innings of relief, allowing only two runs while striking out five batters. The appearance was the longest relief outing of his collegiate career and helped stabilize the game after Ole Miss built an early lead. 


Zach Crotchfelt recorded the final outs, striking out two batters to seal the victory. 


Ole Miss Season Comes to an End 


Despite the loss, Ole Miss received several strong offensive performances. 


The bottom third of the lineup carried much of the production. Fawley, Randle, and Reuter combined for six hits, two home runs, and five RBIs. Federico also recorded two hits and drove in a run. 


However, the Rebels were unable to protect their four-run lead, and Troy’s late offensive explosion proved decisive. 


Head coach Mike Bianco praised his team’s accomplishments despite the disappointing ending, noting the challenges of reaching Omaha and competing on college baseball’s biggest stage. 


Troy Continues Historic Run 


The victory marked another milestone in one of the most remarkable postseason runs in program history. 


The Trojans improved to 5–0 in elimination games during the NCAA Tournament and continued a postseason journey that included victories over several power-conference opponents. Troy became one of the final teams remaining in Omaha and continued to demonstrate resilience under pressure. 


Final Takeaway 


Troy’s 12–8 victory over Ole Miss showcased resilience, timely hitting, and outstanding bullpen work. Trailing 6–2 midway through the game, the Trojans responded with seven unanswered runs and dominated the final innings to secure the win. 


Ole Miss built an early lead behind home runs from Brayden Randle and Collin Reuter but could not contain Troy’s relentless offense. 


With the victory, Troy advanced in the College World Series, while Ole Miss concluded another successful season in Omaha. 

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