The Diamond Rebels look ready to redeem the heartbreak caused in Oxford last season. And they couldn't have had a better start for it than the 11-3 crushing of Nevada at Swayze Field on the opening weekend.
2025's Regional Exit was a bitter pill to swallow, one that left the Rebel fans wanting more.
However, Friday's blowout of Nevada suggests the Rebels are done playing with their food.
It was in the air at the Swayze as the Rebel Nation broke the attendance record to give a start worth remembering to their redemption season.
Ole Miss on the lookout for redemption?
It took them some time to find their footing in the first innings after redshirt junior pitcher Hunter Elliott gave up a home run to Jake Harvey and gave up three hits, though.
Won our opening game + Coach’s 950th win 😌 pic.twitter.com/MKg561dBpb
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) February 14, 2026
However, the anxiety was short-lived as Elliott didn't take long to come back in the form that Swayze Field is used to. The Ole Miss pitcher gave up one run on three hits in his start over five innings, with Ole Miss leading at 7-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Plus, Elliott not allowing a hit since giving up three in the first inning made his score go up to 82 pitches with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Then came the Owen Kelly pitching in the top of the sixth. The shaky momentum ended up in some failed makeable plays, and fielding errors ended Kelly's day with one out. The momentum got a bit shaky here as Nevada was trailing 7-3, but Hudson Calhoun jumped in to save the day.
Calhoun, the junior who just missed a starting rotation spot coming out of preseason practice, threw eight total pitches with two in scoring position and struck out back-to-back hitters to end the threat. It put Ole Miss comfortably back in command of the eventual 11-3 win over the Wolf Pack.
" I'm not gonna let you take the ball out of my hand," Calhoun said. " I'm going to go out there and try and finish the game."
The Diamond Rebs snapped out of its funk and taking contro of the Nevada bullpen in a game like that sends a clear message that they're here to win.
The only thing remaining to be seen is whether they can keep the pedal to the metal once they hit SEC West.