Going against the No. 18 Auburn Tigers with pitcher Casey Mize, the potential No. 1 pick in next year’s draft, on the mound, things couldn’t have been looked much tougher for the Rebels on a Friday night in the Southeastern Conference.

But when the game finally came around, things couldn’t have gone much better, as Ole Miss, torched the Tigers 8-3 and took a 2-0 lead in the series.

The win, which was the 800th  of Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco’s career, was basically an elimination game for a top four seed in the SEC Tournament.

It was Mize’s worst outing of the season. He allowed eight hits and six earned runs over five innings while striking out five and allowing one walk.

Ole Miss pitcher Brady Feigl, meanwhile, threw arguably his best outing. He lasted eight innings and allowed nine hits and three earned runs while striking out a career high 12 batters and walking just one.

Second baseman Tyler Keenan had a massive day for the Rebels at the plate, getting them on the board in the second inning with an RBI single, and then homering to left field in the fourth inning. Keenan finished 3-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs on the day.

Meanwhile, Thomas Dillard had three hits, including an RBI double in the fifth, and scored on a pickoff attempt that turned into an error in the seventh.

Chase Cockrell had two hits and a two-run homer in the second inning. Cole Zabowksi had two hits and one run on the day, Will Golson and Grae Kessinger both added one hit and one run

For the Tigers, Brett Wright and Brendan Venter both homered, and Josh Anthony had an RBI single.

Greer Holston closed the game for the Rebels, allowing two hits and striking out two batters in his one inning of work. Holston picked up the save.

Ole Miss and Auburn clash in game three at 4 p.m. Saturday as the Rebels look for their first SEC sweep of the season.