Troy Stuns Rebels
Troy Rallies from Deficit to Eliminate Ole Miss from College World Series
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Troy defeated Ole Miss 12-8 on June 14 in an elimination game at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, ending the Rebels' College World Series run. The Trojans trailed 6-2 through four innings before storming back for their 18th come-from-behind win of the season, according to Mississippi Today.
The victory kept alive Troy's first-ever College World Series appearance. The two teams combined for 26 hits and 6 home runs — the second-most home runs in a single CWS game at the Omaha venue, AP News reported. Troy will next face the loser of the West Virginia vs. North Carolina matchup on June 16.
Troy's Fourth-Inning Deficit Becomes a Seventh-Inning Lead
Ole Miss starter Hunter Elliott struck out 9 batters in 4.2 innings and gave the Rebels a 6-2 lead. But the Mississippi bullpen could not hold it. Troy clawed back with a four-run seventh inning that flipped the game entirely, according to KDH News.
Catcher Jimmy Janicki hit his team-leading 21st home run to tie the game at 6-6 in the seventh. Then DH Jabe Boroff hit a tiebreaking two-run double to put Troy ahead 8-6. The Trojans poured on four more runs to finish with 12, per The Hour.
Boroff and Thigpen Lead Troy's Postseason Heroes
Boroff has emerged as a postseason force for Troy. He previously hit a grand slam in the Super Regionals and delivered again when it mattered most in Omaha. His tiebreaking double in the seventh proved to be the turning point of the game, per Troy Athletics via Mississippi Today.
Pitcher Noah Thigpen earned the win after throwing 5 innings of relief. He held Ole Miss in check after the Rebels built their early lead. Head Coach Skylar Meade praised the team's "fighter" mentality, saying the Trojans stayed "locked in" despite falling behind early, according to NH Register.
Ole Miss's 2022 Title Glory Feels Distant After Early Exit
Ole Miss won the national championship in 2022 under head coach Mike Bianco. This was the Rebels' first return to Omaha since that title. They went two-and-out after losses to North Carolina (6-2) and now Troy (12-8), finishing their season at 41-23, per Mississippi Today.
Bianco cited "free bases" and inconsistent pitching as the main causes of the collapse. Analysts noted that SEC teams had won 14 straight CWS games against non-SEC opponents before Ole Miss lost to North Carolina and Troy in back-to-back days, according to MRT.
Troy's Cinderella Run Puts the Sun Belt on the Map
Troy reached Omaha by winning five straight elimination games in the Gainesville Regional — including back-to-back wins over Florida — then sweeping Little Rock in the Super Regionals. It was the program's first-ever CWS berth, per Messenger-Inquirer.
Troy now stands at 39-31 on the season. The win validates the program's at-large bid and is expected to boost recruiting and NIL funding. For a mid-major Sun Belt school, knocking out the 2022 national champion on the biggest stage in college baseball is a statement that will resonate beyond 2026, according to KDH News.
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