What 2B Dom Decker says led to Ole Miss baseball turnaround, sweep of LSU

What 2B Dom Decker says led to Ole Miss baseball turnaround, sweep of LSU

OXFORD — Ole Miss baseball second baseman Dom Decker traces his team's remarkable turnaround back to an exact moment.

The Rebels have rattled off five consecutive wins since a 2-5 slide that included being swept at home by Mississippi State.

The winning streak includes a three-game sweep of LSU, capped by an 8-7 win on April 12 at Swayze Field.

What has gotten Ole Miss, and specifically the offense, going?

Decker said the Rebels' ninth-inning rally on April 4 at Florida to snatch a 5-2 win ignited a sense of belief.

Ole Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Ole Miss fan Michael Fondren checks his grill as he cooks before the game against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Mississippi State's Noah Sullivan (18) is caught stealing by Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco (5) looks out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) throws to first for an out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Mississippi State's Kevin Milewski (21) is congratulated by Mississippi State's Bryce Chance (38) following a home run against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Ole Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against \Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Mississippi State's Noah Sullivan (18) is caught stealing by Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Ole Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Ole Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Ole Miss fan Michael Fondren checks his grill as he cooks before the game against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Mississippi State's Noah Sullivan (18) is caught stealing by Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco (5) looks out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) throws to first for an out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Mississippi State's Kevin Milewski (21) is congratulated by Mississippi State's Bryce Chance (38) following a home run against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Ole Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against \Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

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Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photos

Mississippi State's Noah Sullivan (18) is caught stealing by Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

"That last inning (at Florida), when we ended up putting up five (runs), that was a big moment for our offense," he said. "I think it carried over a lot to this weekend. It's kind of what we've seen in our offense all year. We've been waiting for it. Knew it was coming. A matter of when."

The Rebels (26-11, 8-7 SEC) have scored 37 runs in the four games since that moment. In the seven games prior, they averaged only three runs per game.

Coach Mike Bianco said that he's proud of how his team has played since it was swept at Swayze Field by Mississippi State.

"We got kicked in the gut on our own field a couple weeks ago," he said. "It could have went in a different direction, but they didn't. Credit them . . . those guys have played their best ball over the past couple weeks."

If Taylor Rabe keeps it up, Ole Miss pitching rotation can be elite

Bianco was quick to declare that it would be a shame for right-hander Taylor Rabe's outing on April 12 to be glossed over.

Sure, the Tigers (22-15, 6-9) — who had not been swept this season — hit two solo home runs to knock him out of the game as part of a wild seven-run inning. But Rabe also had managed to no-hit the LSU lineup through six innings.

"I know it was a really crazy, neat college baseball game, but man, he was as good as we've seen," Bianco said April 12. "I don't know if you can be better than he was through six. Tough day to pitch when it's warm with the wind gusting out."

Rabe finished with a final stat line of six innings, two hits allowed and two earned runs. He walked only one and struck out five, and has lowered his ERA to 3.16.

"I was feeling really good today," he said. "I wish I could have been a little bit sharper toward the end and not given up those two home runs. Tough way to go out. But everything was working."

Rabe has made three starts in 2026. It's a role he has enjoyed settling into. If he can continue his performance in the Sunday role, Ole Miss will have an elite rotation with ace Hunter Elliott (3.69 ERA) and Cade Townsend (2.02 ERA).,

"I've learned a lot about how to take care of your body throughout the week so you bounce back well," Rabe said. "Also just what to do in between innings and how to attack hitters and stuff like that. It gives you a lot more time than when you are in the bullpen, where it's kind of spur of the moment and you don't really know who you are going to face."

Top 2024 Ole Miss recruit Owen Paino emerges

Middle infielder Owen Paino hasn't been an everyday player, but he made the most of his at-bats against LSU, with five RBIs, increasing his season count to 12. He was 4-for-10 with two home runs, his first of the year.

Paino said staying focused and ready is the key to his success. He credited his teammates for making it easy to stay engaged.

"That's what you've got to do," he said. "You've just got to keep getting better every day, no matter if you are getting the opportunities or not. This is a really long season, everyone just has to stay ready."

Paino, a sophomore, was ranked the No. 21 recruit in the 2024 class by Perfect Game. He struggled to find consistency as a freshman but drew a start in all three games against LSU. He is up to a .313 batting average on 32 at-bats.

"He's such a good teammate. Such a good person," Decker said. "Shows up every day and he's the same dude. A lot of belief in him. We all knew he could do it. I'm really happy for him. He had a great weekend."

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: What Dom Decker says led to Ole Miss baseball turnaround, sweep of LSU