College World Series 2022: Championship Bracket, TV Schedule and More
Mississippi is one win away from the program's first national championship after defeating Oklahoma 10-3 on Saturday in Game 1 of the 2022 men's College World Series finals.
The Rebels pounced early, scoring four runs across the first three innings. The Sooners, who hadn't lost yet in Omaha, clawed back to make it a 4-2 game after six innings, but the Rebels were ready with an answer. Justin Bench, Calvin Harris and T.J. McCants hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning, effectively putting the game out of reach.
If Oklahoma wants to win the program's third national title, they'll have to win two do-or-die games in a row at Charles Schwab Field. Ole Miss can snap up the title on Sunday.
Here's a look at the remaining schedule for the best-of-three series.
Men's College World Series Final Schedule, TV Info
Game 1: Mississippi 10, Oklahoma 3
Game 2: Sunday, June 26 at 3 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3 (if necessary): Monday, June 27 at 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Ole Miss hasn't had much success as a program in the College World Series, but this weekend could change all that. The offense was in fine working order in Game 1, as the Rebels amassed 16 hits, four of them home runs. Senior first baseman and captain Tim Elko led the hit parade, going 4-for-5 with a home run and three runs scored. He crossed the plate twice in the first three innings.
While Elko took care of the early proceedings, his teammates provided the fireworks late. Bench and McCants, part of the home-run bonanza in the eighth, each had two RBI, while second baseman Peyton Chatagnier notched three hits and an RBI of his own.
On the mound, the Rebels got an incredible performance out of Jack Dougherty, who retired the first 15 batters in order before he was pulled from the game with bases loaded in the sixth.
“Obviously, Jack had a tremendous day. I thought [he had] super fastball command, super slider command. He just lived ahead in the count,” head coach Mike Bianco said, per the Oxford Eagle's Jake Davis.
In Game 2, Ole Miss will call upon freshman lefty Hunter Elliott to start on the mound. Elliott is 5-3 with a 2.70 ERA this season. He's coming off a strong outing against Arkansas on Monday, where he pitched 6.1 innings and gave up three runs (one earned) with four strikeouts. Catcher Hayden Dunhurst, a seemingly unflappable backstop who is ranked No. 152 in MLB.com's top prospects, will be guiding the freshman from behind home plate.
With the championship on the line, the Sooners will have to counter with someone other than ace pitcher Jack Bennett, who took the loss in Game 1. The likely option is Cade Horton, who has been excellent over his past four starts.
The bats are also due to pick back up, as the Sooners scored 24 runs in their first three games of the CWS and hadn't even trailed when Ole Miss stunned them in the first inning. The team's first five batters in the lineup, which includes prospects Peyton Graham and Jimmy Crooks, went a combined 1-for-18 with two RBI and two walks on Saturday.
“We don't give up,” Sooners first baseman Blake Robertson said, per the Oklahoman's Justin Martinez. “We go pitch to pitch, and we don't give up. We're going to fight to the last out. It's just an unfortunate loss for us, but it doesn't define us as a team.”
Elliott has been excellent for the Rebels this season, but it's unlikely he can repeat Dougherty's performance against this loaded lineup. Look for Oklahoma to make this a much more competitive game on Sunday with its season on the line.
