OMAHA, NE — Walker Hooks is pitching for Ole Miss baseball in the biggest game of his career.
The Rebels (41-21) are facing No. 5 seed North Carolina (50-12-1) at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 12 (ESPN).
Hooks, the Rebels’ sophomore relief pitcher, entered the College World Series to pitch in the seventh inning. He is relieving Hudson Calhoun. Ole Miss has a 2-1 lead with no outs and two runners on.
Hooks is a left-hander who has grown into the Ole Miss closer this season. He has shown the ability to pitch multiple innings. Hooks pitched three total innings across two games at Auburn in the super regional. He allowed an earned run in both games but got both saves.
Hooks was named to the second team of the Perfect Game’s 2026 College Baseball All-American team.
Here’s what to know about Hooks.
Walker Hooks stats
Hooks is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA in 2026. He has nine saves.
Ole Miss has used Hooks in three NCAA Tournament games, and has gotten the win all three times he’s pitched.
Walker Hooks MLB draft ranking
Hooks is in his second year of college baseball and is not eligible to be drafted.
Walker Hooks hometown
Hooks is from Brandon, Mississippi and went to Brandon High school
2026 College World Series schedule
All times Central
Friday, June 12
- Game 1: West Virginia 7, Troy 5
- Game 2: Ole Miss vs. North Carolina, 6 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday, June 13
- Game 3: Oklahoma vs. Alabama , 2 p.m. on ESPN
- Game 4: Georgia vs. Texas, 7 p.m. on ESPN
Sunday, June 14
- Game 5: Troy vs Game 2 loser, 1 p.m. on ESPN
- Game 6: West Virginia vs Game 2 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN
Monday, June 15
- Game 7: Game 3 loser vs Game 4 loser, 1 p.m. on ESPN
- Game 8: Game 3 winner vs Game 4 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN
Tuesday, June 16
- Game 9: Game 5 winner vs Game 6 loser, 1 p.m. on ESPN
- Game 10: Game 7 winner vs Game 8 loser 7 p.m. on ESPN
Wednesday, June 17
- Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner 1 p.m. on ESPN
- Game 12: Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner, 6 p.m. on ESPN
Thursday, June 18
- Game 13 (if necessary): TBD, ESPN
- Game 14 (if necessary): TBD, ESPN
CWS finals championship series
Best-of-three
- Game 1: Saturday, June 20, 7 p.m. on ESPN
- Game 2: Sunday, June 21, 1:30 p.m. on ABC
- Game 3: Monday, June 22, 6 p.m. on ESPN, if necessary
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: Walker Hooks is Ole Miss baseball star reliever vs UNC in CWS
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