Furniss' Three-Run Homer Triggers Run Rule, Ole Miss Improves to 9-0

Will Furniss ended the game in emphatic fashion, drilling a first-pitch, 412-foot three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh at Swayze Field to put Ole Miss ahead by 10 runs and activate the run rule in a 13-3 victory over Southeast Missouri State. The long ball was Furniss’ first of the 2026 season and the 25th of his Ole Miss career, and it pushed the Rebels to a 9-0 start — their best opening stretch since 2022.

Southeast Missouri State opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first and added another in the second, but Ole Miss answered immediately. In the bottom of the first, Tristan Bissetta delivered an RBI single that scored Judd Utermark, Collin Reuter followed with an RBI single to drive in Furniss and Topher Jones recorded his first RBI as a Rebel with a single that plated Bissetta, giving Ole Miss an early lead.

The Rebels’ offense exploded in the bottom of the second, plating six runs off five hits to extend the lead. Furniss doubled in Dom Decker during the rally, Judd Utermark scored from third on a wild pitch, Collin Reuter posted his fourth consecutive game with a double, Cannon Goldin delivered a two-run single that scored Reuter and Bissetta, and Brayden Randle finished the frame by reaching third on the inning’s final hit as Ole Miss entered the third leading 9-2.

Ole Miss added an insurance run in the seventh before Furniss’ homer. Owen Paino ripped a deep single to left to plate Brayden Randle and left Paino and Hayden Federico on first and second when Furniss stepped to the plate. On the first pitch he saw, Furniss launched the three-run shot that ended the game. Furniss finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three runs scored.

Pitching unfolded unevenly for the Rebels. Terry Hayes Jr. started and worked 1 1/3 innings while allowing two earned runs. Owen Kelly relieved and worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win; official pitching credit lists W: Kelly, Owen (1-0) and L: Kickhaefer, Caden (0-1). A trio of relievers — Marko Sipila, Patrick Collopy and Grayson Gibson — each worked an inning, fanning one batter apiece and allowing one combined run; Dispatch reporting assigns that single run to Sipila. Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said, “Wasn’t … the best night for that staff, but they hung in there.” Game accounts also note Rebels pitchers issued eight walks while recording four strikeouts.

Olemissports team hitting stats for the game were listed as follows: 2B: Furniss, Will 1; Bissetta, Tristan 1; Reuter, Collin 1 HR: Furniss, Will 1 RBI: Paino, Owen 1; Furniss, Will 4; Bissetta, Tristan 2; Reuter, Collin 1; Goldin, Cannon 2; Jones, Topher 1 RUNS: Decker, Dom 1; Paino, Owen 1; Utermark, Judd 2; Furniss, Will 3; Bissetta, Tristan 2; Reuter, Collin 1; Goldin, Cannon 1; Randle, Brayden 1; Federico, Hayden 1 SB: Randle, Brayden 1

The win continued an offensive pattern for Ole Miss; multiple outlets noted the Rebels have scored at least 10 runs in five games this season and have recorded two finishes this year described as walk-off or run-rule wins through nine games. Some outlets listed the Rebels as No. 25 nationally in their recaps, and Southeast Missouri State was identified as 3-6 in game summaries.

Furniss offered a light moment after the game, recalling a comment from an opponent: “(Sophomore pitcher) Cade Townsend looked at me when I was on deck, and I think he was ready to go home. Because he looked at me and he said, ‘Furniss, homer,’” Furniss said with a laugh. “So, I decided that that was the time that I needed to finally break out of the singles-only slump.”

Ole Miss will carry the 9-0 record to Houston for the BRUCE BOLT College Classic, where the Rebels are scheduled to face Baylor, Ohio State and Coastal Carolina; the opening game against Baylor is set for Friday, Feb. 27 at 3:05 p.m. CT.