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Must-See Highlights: Ole Miss clinches fourth SEC series, matches total of last two seasons

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•04/27/25•

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Ole Miss RHP Riley Maddox (Photo credit: Ole Miss Baseball/X)

No. 23 Ole Miss baseball on Saturday claimed its weekend series with No. 9 Vanderbilt with a 7-1 win. 

The Rebels (31-12, 12-8 SEC) have now matched in a single season the combined win total for conference series wins of the last two seasons. Ole Miss had back-to-back losing campaigns following its first-ever national title win in the summer of 2022.

The Rebels got a much-needed dominant start from senior right-hander Riley Maddox. Maddox seemingly reestablished his standing in the weekend rotation by tying his career-high with seven innings pitched. He gave up just one run on four hits, struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.

Maddox had given up three or more runs in four of his previous six starts.

“He was terrific,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said of Maddox. “One of those nights where he seemed in control from the go and throughout the game. There’s usually an inning where you gotta make a couple good pitches to get out of that jam. He really didn’t have that. 

“It was really a great night. Terrific night on the mound for him. Even at times you could say he looked better than the last couple of innings. I thought the sinker stayed down a lot more. He was outstanding.”

Ole Miss RHP relievers Brayden Jones and Connor Spencer were the only other pitchers used in the game. 

The pair combined for three strikeouts and one hit allowed.

Spencer last season led Ole Miss in games finished (13) and saves (7). He only faced one batter but is now up to three saves this season. Outfielder Ryan Moerman led the team with two hits and three RBI, including a 400-plus-foot home run, his 10th of the year.

He’s now the fourth Rebel with double-digit homers. Judd Utermark had one, too, and is the team leader with 13. Saturday was the fourth straight game for Ole Miss to hit two or more home runs.

The Rebels will attempt a sweep of Vanderbilt (30-13, 11-9) Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. Austin Simmons, a former Rebel pitcher and the new Ole Miss starting quarterback in football, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The included highlights were provided by Ole Miss Athletics.

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