Ole Miss’ Hunter Elliott looked himself (if not a little better) in highly-anticipated return
Title-winning Ole Miss pitcher Hunter Elliott on Friday made his return to a starting mound for the first time since 2023.
He looked himself, if not a little bit better after the long layoff.
Elliott allowed two hits but no runs with three strikeouts and three walks over 5.0 complete innings. He left in line for his first win of the season and Ole Miss up 2-0 on No. 21 Arizona. The Rebels scored on a sacrifice fly from Luke Hill and a home run by Louisville transfer Isaac Humphrey.
Elliott and the Rebels are kicking off the 2025 season in the Shriner’s Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas. The Rebels swept three ranked teams when they first played in the tournament back in 2021.
They’re looking for a repeat four years later. Veteran right-handers Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols will start for Ole Miss against No. 19 Texas (Saturday) and No. 15 Clemson (Sunday), respectively.
“For people who’ve followed Hunter’s career here, back in 2022, he won us a national championship averaging like 87 miles an hour,” Ole Miss hitting coach Mike Clement previously told the Ole Miss Spirit. “He’s left-handed and there’s a ton of deception there. It’s a plus-plus change-up with a good slider.
“He’s going to throw much harder, and you know everybody ticks up a little bit when you go to Globe Life and pitch against the University of Arizona. He looks super healthy. His biggest attribute is dude loves to compete and has never been scared in his life. We feel really good about where he’s at. He’s been great and looks strong.”
RELATED: Why Hunter Elliott earns the first start after long recovery
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Elliott’s fastball velocity was, indeed, up on Opening Day.
Elliott in the first inning hovered around 90-92 and ticked up at times to 93-94. He registered his first strikeout in the frame and on a 94-miles-per-hour heater. Elliott snapped of an 80 mph change-up, too.
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His pitch count got high, promoting a mound visit from first-year pitching coach Jake Mangrum. But he was otherwise the Elliott Ole Miss fans grew to know during the championship run of 2022.
Elliott was a 2022 Freshman All-American. He was 2-0 with 28 Ks and four runs allowed in the College World Series. Ole Miss won 10 of its 11 postgame games.
Friday was just his third start since, however. Elliott had Tommy John elbow surgery in 2023. He finished second on the team in ERA and strikeouts last he pitched.
“It’s been exciting to see the growth in all those guys,” Ole Miss assistant Carl Lafferty said this week. “Not just the normal ones like Hunter and Riley, but Mason Nichols. Connor Spencer has looked awesome. Mason Morris has thrown the ball as well as anybody.”
Morris relieved Elliott. He was still pitching when this story was published but had allowed a solo home run and three hits in 2.2 innings. He’d struck out two and walked two. Ole Miss led, 2-1, in the top of the eighth inning.
