Dom Decker played an integral role in knocking Ole Miss out of the NCAA Tournament in 2025 as part of the historic Murray State club that eventually reached the College World Series. A year later, the junior made the play that sent Mike Bianco’s club to its first super regional since 2022 — and we all know how that season panned out for the red and blue, highlighted by Tim Elko’s famous, “Don’t let the Rebs get hot,” line.
Decker, with one out and runners on the corners in the bottom of the 10th, lined out to left field, but hit the ball far enough that Cannon Goldin was able to comfortably scoot home to earn the 5-4 walk-off win over Arizona State on Sunday. Decker’s big hit was a sigh of relief for the transfer second baseman, as he had struck out in three prior trips to the plate.
“There is no better feeling than playoff baseball,” Decker said after the game. “It’s what keeps all of us going. It’s what you play for. It’s what you practice every day for — the long days. It’s the reason we’re here. It’s awesome.”
.@DominicDecker12 SENDS US TO THE SUPERS‼️ pic.twitter.com/1SNTDDMEd4
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 1, 2026
Screenwriters for award-winning drama movies and TV series could not have scripted a more dramatic Lincoln Regional run than the one Ole Miss went on. The Rebels endured two extra-inning games, a weather-related suspension that forced Saturday’s contest with just one inning remaining to conclude on Sunday, and a series of review-related misfortunes that could have proven too costly to overcome. Yet, the constant of the weekend was Ole Miss (39-21) succeeding with resilience.
In the regional final, the red-hot Brayden Rrandle was the only Rebel with multiple hits. Getting the nod in the designated hitter role, Randle had two hits, a walk, and an RBI before being swapped for Collin Reuter in the seventh inning. Reuter went on to draw a crucial walk in the 10th and was replaced by the speedy Goldin on base. Other notable Ole Miss batters were Tristan Bissetta, who homered in the third inning, and Austin Fawley, who had a hit and an RBI.
On the mound, JP Robertson (4-1) earned the win as the closer. The Madison native had a heroic two scoreless innings, striking out two batters, walking one, and allowing just one hit. Cade Townsend got the start. The righty fanned seven batters while giving up four runs on six hits. Only three of the runs were earned. Wil Libbert served as the bridge between Townsend and Robertson and was masterful. The lefty Missouri transfer held Arizona State scoreless for three innings.
Ole Miss shortstop Owen Paino was a star defensively. The sophomore had a run-saving gem of a catch on a line drive hit over his head in the top of the fourth, along with multiple impressive plays to first to save his pitchers some trouble and keep the basepath empty.
The Sun Devils struck first blood with a leadoff home run by Dean Toigo. The Arizona State right fielder added to the tally in the top of the second with a single that scored two runs. Trailing 3-0, the Rebels rebutted in the bottom of the second, with a Randle RBI single scoring Hayden Federico and a Decker sacrifice fly sending Paino to home plate. Bissetta homered in the third to knot things up.
Ole Miss threatened to add another run in the frame when Federico tried to go from second to home on a Randle single to left field. But the sophomore was ultimately gunned down at the plate, and a challenge to the call by Bianco proved fruitless. Arizona State added insult to its foe’s injury by scoring on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead.
Three innings later, Fawley broke a scoring moratorium for the Rebels, who had been effectively carved by a series of Sun Devil bullpen arms, with a double deep to left field that scored Federico. A pair of scoreless innings followed for both teams, and it was Ole Miss who walked away victorious at Haymarket Park, the home of a Nebraska club that was eliminated from its regional by Arizona State ahead of Sunday night’s finale.
For Arizona State (39-20), Toigo shone, logging two hits, a home run, and three RBI with his club’s best offensive player absent. Star center fielder Landon Hairston was ruled ineligible to compete against Ole Miss after being ejected from an earlier elimination game versus the Cornhuskers. Ky McGary helped Toigo pick up the slack, recording two hits in the loss.
The Sun Devils used five different pitchers against Ole Miss. Closer Derek Schaefer took the loss after giving up the losing run. Bullpen arm Alex Overbay had the best mound presence of the pitching staff, fanning five batters in 3.1 scoreless innings in his team’s final game of the 2026 season.
Next up
Ole Miss, after running through the weekend unblemished, awaits the Auburn Regional final to see where it will land in the supers. The Tigers boast the No. 4 national seed and would host the super if it advances. If Auburn is upset by Milwaukee, however, super regional play would occur at Swazye Field in Oxford.
