OMAHA, Neb.- The Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 2-0 behind starting pitcher Dylan DeLucia’s complete-game shutout to advance the Rebels to the Men’s College World Series Championship series against the Oklahoma Sooners.
“The story of the day was Dylan, legendary performance,” Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco said.
Runs were at a premium as DeLucia and Razorbacks ace Connor Noland surrendered only three hits combined through the first three innings.
“It was just one of those days you had to take care of your opportunities when you got them,” Ole Miss left fielder Kevin Graham said.
The Rebels took the early lead in the top of the fourth when Graham delivered a run-scoring double down the left-field line, which scored Justin Bench and gave Ole Miss a 1-0 lead.
Both teams were scoreless the next two innings of play as Noland retired five of the next six batters he faced while DeLucia retired six batters in a row after surrendering a single in the bottom of the sixth. DeLucia started the game by retiring 18 of the first 21 batters he faced.
“The pitchers they gave it everything they had,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said.
The Rebels led 2-0 in the top of the seventh. when right fielder Calvin Harris singled to right to score Tim Elko and increase the Ole Miss lead to 2-0. Elko and Graham started the inning with back-to-back singles.
The Razorbacks threatened to score in the bottom of the 7th inning when two runners reached on an infield single and an error with two out in the inning. DeLucia, however, pitched into and out of trouble when Razorbacks designated hitter Brady Slavens grounded out to Rebel’s second baseman Peyton Chatagnier to end the Arkansas threat.
“I just went out there to put up as much zeroes as I can,” DeLucia said.
DeLucia finished the game by allowing no runs and no hits in the final two innings, finishing his complete-game shutout with six strikeouts on 114 pitches.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a better pitching performance in a clutch game like that,” Elko said.
Noland threw eight innings for Arkansas, allowing two runs and collecting seven strikeouts.
“He was unbelievable,” Arkansas third baseman Cayden Wallace said. “He pitched his heart out just like he did for us all year.”
The Razorbacks finish their season with a 46-21 record after making it to the MCWS for the second time in four years.
“So proud of my team; I’m just proud of the way they fought,” Van Horn said. “I’m not going to cry when you finish your season in Omaha.”
The Rebels (40-23) now advance to face the Oklahoma Sooners in a best two-of-three series for the national championship beginning Saturday, June 25 at Charles Schwab Field at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
“They’ve had a terrific year,” Bianco said about the Sooners. “They’ve played their best baseball down the stretch; I have a lot of work to do over the next 36 hours.”