Jacob Gonzalez, Tim Elko talk mindset before eighth inning rally to win CWS title

Game 2 of the College World Series final between Ole Miss and Oklahoma was tight throughout, and it took nearly six complete innings before a run was put on the board. But with Ole Miss needing to answer in the eighth inning with a one-run deficit and time running out, Rebels stars Jacob Gonzalez and Tim Elko never had any doubts.

Ole Miss struck first, as Gonzalez smacked a solo home run to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Oklahoma answered back, though, responding two runs in the top of the seventh. As Ole Miss came to bat in the bottom of the eighth, the Rebels knew they needed to score.

Gonzalez again came through in the eighth, and with runners on the corners and one out, he smacked an RBI single through the right side of the infield to tie things up. Two wild pitches later and Gonzalez came in to score himself, capping a three-run inning for Ole Miss.

“Kind of knew we were going to start the scoring, either in the eighth or the ninth,” Gonzalez said. “That’s just how we are. We’re going to put the pressure on. We’re not just going to strike out on the — like strike out the side and sit down. We’re going to fight. And luckily I got a hit, and I finally got to help the team out this week. I’m just glad I got to help out.

“Then everyone else had great at-bats to get us those runs.”

Veteran Ole Miss star Tim Elko was confident when Gonzalez came up to bat in the big spot, and he was right. The three-run eighth proved to be enough, as Ole Miss shut things down in the ninth and clinched its first ever College World Series title with the 4-2 final.

“I knew Gonzo was going to get a hit,” said Elko. “I knew it the whole time. Nice, Gonzo.”

Gonzalez, Elko were a big part of the run for Ole Miss

The 2021 season was Gonzalez’s first of college baseball, and he exploded out of the gates with a .355 average, 12 home runs and 55 RBI. While his average dipped this season, Gonzalez remained a key part of the Rebels lineup. On the year, Gonzalez hit .273 with 18 home runs and 52 RBI.

This season was Elko’s fifth at Ole Miss, and like Gonzalez, he enjoyed a ton of success. Elko struggled a bit in the first couple of years in his collegiate career, hitting .214 over his first two years of college baseball. He didn’t let that stop him.

This season, Elko hit at a .300 clip, belting 24 home runs with 75 RBI.