From the Dugout: Mike Bianco, Hunter Elliott and Isaac Humphrey on Ole Miss win over No. 21 Arizona

Friday got the 2025 season off to a very good start for Ole Miss baseball. Needing to pull up on the nosedive the program has been in since winning it all nearly three years ago, things went as well as they could.

The Rebels knocked off No. 21 Arizona, 2-1, at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas in the second game of the Shriners Children’s Showdown. The Wildcats had won their last 17 straight season openers entering the game.

Hunter Elliott returned to the mound in what was his best outing since leading Ole Miss to its first national championship in Omaha in 2022.

At the plate Ole Miss newcomer Isaac Humphrey and Luke Hill provided the winning offense with mult-hit games.

Here is some of what Elliott, Humphrey and head coach Mike Bianco had to say about the season-opening win.

MIKE BIANCO

On Hunter Elliott’s Return: “Proud of him. It’s what you’re hopeful for. You hope that a guy that talented is going to go out there and not make the moment too big. Stay within himself, make some pitches. Wasn’t easy. He picked a guy off, threw a guy out stealing, played really good defense but he had some innings where he had some traffic. Made some pitches and got off the field. It hasn’t been an easy road for him. But, man, we’re glad he’s back.”

The Ole Miss defense: “To not get caught up in the wins and losses, but that’s why we do it. But one of the things we didnt’ do well last year was catch. I thought Campbell (Smithwick) was terrific. Had a big caught stealing and was really terrific behind the plate. …We needed all the plays tonight.”

Winning a tight game: “As I just told the guys, everybody wants the easy road but usually it’s not. Usually you got to do something to win the game. They played really well over there. Pitched it well, they played good defense as well. They hit a home run. We maybe made a play or two they didn’t and that was the difference in the game. In the first weekend you always want to play well but this is tough to do here. In this environment against three really good teams. Excited that we got off to a good start.”

HUNTER ELLIOTT

On his stuff as the game progressed: “It felt good. Adrenaline was flowing. Couldn’t feel the body at times. It’s been a long time out there for me. I thought my stuff was really good early then I kind of settled in. Maybe got a little tired late. I haven’t had the adrenaline flowing of a big game like this in a long time. So maybe I red-lined a little. It was good. It was good to get those last couple innings, keep the team in it.”

Coming out after the fifth inning: “I came in with a pitch count around 75 today. I wasn’t in a great spot after three innings. Maybe at 60 pitches. Kind of had a talk that I needed a couple quick innings and I was able to do that.”

When returning hit him: “The journey’s long and I learned a lot along the journey. I think it really hit me during the national anthem. My heart was pumping. I had a good walk in from the bullpen to kind of slow the heart rate down but I think when the national anthem ended was when it hit me.”

Thoughts on bullpen: “They’re incredible. Our bullpen is so good and so deep. We have so many guys that we trust, that the coaches trust. whoever we bring in we believe in them. Mason, he was incredible. He was his normal self. Spencer, in very Spencer fashion, he finished it off.”

ISAAC HUMPHREY

On home run at-bat: “It was just a great AB by Luke Hill in front of me. He was the one that got the job done, really,” Humphrey said. “Got us on the board. Got us going, so it kind of took a lot of pressure off me. I was able to just kind of let one loose and not have to worry about anything. I just kind of ambushed a fastball and put a good swing on it.”

Playing behind Elliott: “It’s awesome. I know I’ve only been here six, seven months but he’s a guy you always want to play behind. To get back out here, I know it’s really important for the fans to see that and we all love it. It’s awesome.”

Getting the win: “It gets your heart rate going a little bit. You kind of feel the pressures that you’re used to most the time. I think it’s awesome because we did a little bit of everything today. Pitchers threw really well. Hitters, I think we only scored two runs, but had some good at-bats and the defense was great. It was a great win overall.”