Ole Miss Rebounds with 7-1 Win Over Memphis

Judd Utermark's two home runs and strong pitching from Owen Kelly and Grayson Gibson lead the Rebels to victory.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Ole Miss baseball team bounced back from a disappointing weekend in Houston with a 7-1 win over Memphis on Tuesday night. Judd Utermark hit a pair of two-run home runs, while starting pitcher Owen Kelly and reliever Grayson Gibson combined to limit the Tigers to just one run on three hits. The Rebels played errorless defense and got production from the bottom of the lineup to secure the victory.

Why it matters

After a tough showing at a tournament in Houston, this win helps Ole Miss regain momentum and confidence heading into the rest of the season. The Rebels are looking to defend their national championship, and this performance shows they can bounce back from adversity.

The details

Utermark's two home runs, a 413-foot shot and a 400-foot blast to center field, accounted for four of Ole Miss' seven runs. Freshman pitcher Grayson Gibson was particularly impressive, retiring the first 11 batters he faced and limiting Memphis to just one hit over four innings of relief. The Rebels also played solid defense, committing no errors in the game.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.

The players

Judd Utermark

An Ole Miss baseball player who hit two home runs in the game, moving him closer to the school's all-time home run record.

Owen Kelly

The Ole Miss starting pitcher who threw four innings, allowing one run on three hits.

Grayson Gibson

A true freshman relief pitcher from Tampa, Florida who retired the first 11 batters he faced and limited Memphis to one hit over four innings.

Mike Bianco

The head coach of the Ole Miss baseball team.

Joel Mangrum

An Ole Miss assistant coach who has helped improve Grayson Gibson's pickoff move.

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What they’re saying

“Grayson was really good. How could you not be pleased with what he did? Faced the minimum in four innings. I think it was only the third time we had put up four zeros in a row this season.”

— Mike Bianco, Head Coach (on3.com)

“I was very comfortable out there. My fastball command was really good and I trusted my defense. I've always had a good pickoff move, but coach Joel Mangrum has made it better.”

— Grayson Gibson, Pitcher (on3.com)

“I didn't even look how far it was. I knew it felt good off the bat, so I just put my head down and ran the bases.”

— Judd Utermark (on3.com)

The takeaway

This win shows that the Ole Miss baseball team has the resilience to bounce back from a tough stretch and get back on track towards defending their national championship. The strong pitching performance and timely hitting from Utermark are positive signs as the Rebels look to continue improving throughout the season.