HOOVER, Ala. – In the final game of Wednesday’s second-round action at the 2025 Southeastern Conference Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, the No. 7 seed Ole Miss Rebels defeated the No. 10 seed Florida Gators 3-1 on a 71-degree night.
The Gators were ranked No. 15 and the Rebels at No. 17 in the D1Baseball.com Top 25 poll released May 19.
Under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, Florida will now wait for Selection Monday on May 26 at 12 p.m. EDT on ESPNU to learn where they will play in the NCAA Tournament.
Florida starting pitcher Liam Peterson struck out six batters over the first three innings on Wednesday night.
Peterson threw five innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck out six while facing 18 batters and totaling 75 pitches, 47 for strikes.
RHP Liam Peterson (@GatorsBB) with explosive stuff to open up the night slot. 96-98 w/ life & dominating w/ 4 pitches. CH @ 84-88 showing plus frequently. Bullet upper-80s SL too. Everything for whiffs. Top ranked ‘26 college arm. pic.twitter.com/ptiT9A8pc2
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 22, 2025
Ole Miss broke through in the bottom of the fourth, when center fielder Isaac Humphrey cracked a two-out double into the right-center gap, scoring second baseman Judd Utermark to take a 1-0 lead.
Back-to-back doubles and the Rebs are in business! pic.twitter.com/WqVywWD707
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 22, 2025
A few moments later, Campbell Smith drove an RBI single to right, with Humphrey scoring to make it 2-0. On the same play, Florida right fielder Ashton Wilson made an errant throw to second base that skipped past third and into foul territory, allowing Ryan Moerman to score for a 3-0 Ole Miss lead.
Soup extends the lead to three!@campbellrsoup x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/4u8f9aqNyY
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 22, 2025
Florida got on the board in the top of the fifth. Third baseman Landon Stripling reached on a fielder’s choice, and an errant throw by Rebels shortstop Brayden Randle skipped into foul territory, scoring Ashton Wilson from third to cut the lead to 3-1.
Gators on the board! 🎯#GoGators // SECN pic.twitter.com/pHyEVqTL5Q
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 22, 2025
Rebels head coach Mike Bianco turned to his bullpen in the top of the sixth, pulling starter Hunter Elliott and bringing in reliever Mason Morris.
Elliott went 5.1 innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out eight on 98 pitches, 62 for strikes.
LHP Hunter Elliott (@OleMissBSB) is thru three hitless on his side. Deception w/ tons of angle from LS on low-90s heater. Excellent CH in low-80s he’ll throw to RH or LHHs. ‘25 Elig. @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/tI8AiY0SNl
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 22, 2025
Morris held his own, throwing 2.2 innings with two hits, no earned runs, and two strikeouts before giving way to Connor Spencer in the ninth.
Spencer retired the side in order, ending the game with a fly out by Ashton Wilson to center fielder Isaac Humphrey as Ole Miss closed out the 3-1 win.
“We pitched the crap out of it, but then you look at the box score—both teams struck out 11 and walked one,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said. “That double-double-single stretch from Utermark, Humphrey, and Smithwick was huge.”
Florida is now 26-11 overall and 15-16 in SEC play.
“We’ve done a great job managing my workload so I could be strong right now,” said Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott. “I’m not declining—I’m still rising.”
Ole Miss improved to 26-8 overall and 17-14 in the SEC.
The Rebels committed three errors and left three runners on base. Florida made two errors and stranded six.
“When the lights are the brightest and the stage is the biggest, I really want it,” Elliott said. “I want to win.”
Ole Miss will face Arkansas on Friday, May 23, at 4 p.m. EDT on SEC Network.
2025 SEC Baseball Tournament Schedule
All Game Start Times Are Eastern Daylight Time
*Second Game Of Each Session Will Begin Approximately 30 Minutes After The Conclusion Of First Game
Tuesday-Sunday, May 20-25
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, Ala.
Tuesday, May 20 – First Round
Game 1: No. 9 Alabama 4, No. 16 Missouri 1 – Final
*Game 2: No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 13 Kentucky 1 – Final
Game 3: No. 10 Florida 11, No. 15 South Carolina 3 – Final
Wednesday, May 21 – Second Round
Game 4: No. 14 Texas A&M 9, No. 11 Mississippi State 0 – Final – First Round
Game 5: No. 8 Tennessee 15, No. 9 Alabama 10 – Final
*Game 6: No. 12 Oklahoma 3, No. 5 Georgia 2 – Final
Game 7: No. 10 Florida 1, No. 7 Ole Miss 3 – Final
Thursday, May 22 – Quarterfinals
Game 8: No. 14 Texas A&M vs. No. 6 Auburn – 12 p.m. – SECN – Second Round
*Game 9: No. 8 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Texas – 4 p.m. – SECN
*Game 10: No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt – 7 p.m. – SECN
Friday, May 23 – Quarterfinals
Game 11: No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 2 Arkansas – 4 p.m. – SECN
*Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. No. 3 LSU – 7 p.m. – SECN
Saturday, May 24 – Semifinals
Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 – 1 p.m. – SECN
*Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 – 4 p.m.- SECN
Sunday, May 25 – Championship Game
Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14 – 3 p.m. – ESPN2
SEC MLBPipeline.com Top 150 Draft Prospects
No. 7 – OF – Jace LaViolette – Texas A&M
No. 8 – RHP – Kyson Witherspoon – Oklahoma
No. 9 – LHP – Kade Anderson – Louisiana State
No. 10 – LHP – Liam Doyle – Tennessee
No. 16 – 2B – Gavin Kilen – Tennessee
No. 20 – OF/C – Ike Irish – Auburn
No. 24 – SS – Wehiwa Aloy – Arkansas
No. 28 – OF – Max Belyeu – Texas
No. 33 – RHP – Riley Quick – Alabama
No. 35 – 1B/3B – Andrew Fischer – Tennessee
No. 36 – OF/3B – Ethan Petry – South Carolina
No. 44 – LHP – Zach Root – Arkansas
No. 54 – SS/3B – Dean Curley – Tennessee
No. 55 – RHP – A.J. Russell – Tennessee
No. 60 – OF – Charles Davalan – Arkansas
No. 66 – 2B – Daniel Dickinson – Louisiana State
No. 69 – RHP – Marcus Phillips – Tennessee
No. 72 – LHP – J.D. Thompson – Vanderbilt
No. 78 – RHP – Chase Shores – Louisiana State
No. 79 – LHP- Jared Spencer – Texas
No. 90 – 1B – Jared Jones – Louisiana State
No. 99 – LHP – Justin Lamkin – Texas A&M
No. 100 – OF – RJ Austin – Vanderbilt
No. 101 – C – Easton Carmichael – Oklahoma
No. 102 – LHP – Pico Kohn – Mississippi State
No. 113 – RHP – Nate Snead – Tennessee
No. 116 – RHP – Mason Morris – Mississippi
No. 117 – SS – Jalin Morris – Texas
No. 123 – OF/1B – Tre Phelps – Georgia
No. 131 – SS – Colby Shelton – Florida
No. 133 – RHP – Malachi Witherspoon – Oklahoma
No. 141 – 3B – Brent Iredale – Arkansas
