Ole Miss completes season-opening sweep of Nevada with 13-2 run-rule win

A dominant start by Missouri transfer Wil Libbert and an explosive first inning powered Ole Miss to a 13-2 run-rule victory over Nevada at Swayze Field on Sunday, completing a three-game season-opening sweep and pushing the Rebels to 3-0. The finale ended after seven innings under the run-rule, leaving Nevada winless at 0-3.

Ole Miss outscored Nevada 29-6 across the series, collecting 31 hits and drawing 22 walks in three games. The Rebels drew 13 walks in Sunday’s finale alone, and Ole Miss pitchers struck out 35 batters while issuing just six walks across the weekend, a balance that underscored the staff’s swing-for-the-fences approach and the Wolf Pack’s control issues.

Libbert made his first start in crimson and blue, working five innings while allowing two earned runs and recording seven strikeouts. He tied a career high with his sixth and seventh strikeouts in the fifth and eclipsed the 80-pitch mark. Head coach Mike Bianco praised Libbert’s preparation and SEC experience, saying, “(Libbert’s) just pitched so well since being on campus. Had a really good fall, but he’s been lights out in January. … He was terrific and deserved that, and a guy that’s got SEC experience and a guy that we’re hopeful he’s going to have one of those great years for you.”

Offensively, Ole Miss opened the game in emphatic fashion. Senior Illinois State transfer Daniel Pacella launched a towering two-run home run to right field as part of a five-run first inning that came before the Rebels recorded an out. Leadoff man Dom Decker began the rally with a seven-pitch walk, and the lineup kept Nevada’s pitchers off balance; Collin Reuter finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI, marking his third career three-hit game and his first since April 6, 2024 against Texas with his previous school.

Nevada answered briefly when Sean Yamaguchi led off the second with a homer into the visiting bullpen, and Sam Kane reached third in the third to create a jam that Libbert escaped via a strikeout, a play from Furniss back to Libbert, and a groundout to Decker at second. Ole Miss added two runs in the third on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch, and Judd Utermark’s line-drive RBI double in the fifth scored Bissetta all the way from first. Utermark reflected on the balance in the lineup: “Each guy knew their individual role, which you don’t get a lot usually early on in the season. That was … kind of refreshing. … I think overall, throughout the lineup, I think it’s really dangerous and I’m excited to see what it is in the future.”

With the game in hand, Ole Miss turned to Patrick Collopy and Landon Waters. Collopy struck out the first two batters in the sixth before allowing a single and seeing the inning end on a groundout. Waters surrendered a double but recorded a strikeout and induced two fielder’s choices to preserve the shutout stretch and finish the 13-2 run-rule victory.

Ole Miss returns to Swayze Field on Tuesday, Feb. 17 to face Arkansas State at 4 p.m. CT, with the game streamed on SECN+.