The University of Mississippi Athletics
Wednesday, February 26
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
vs
McNeese
Softball Set for Home Opener Against McNeese
2/25/2025 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss softball program makes its long-awaited return back to Oxford for the home openers, as the Rebels host McNeese on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT.
The Rebels (12-3, 0-0 SEC) will face off against the Cowgirls (10-4, 0-0 SLC) in the first home game in the new Ole Miss Softball Stadium. The game will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
Gates will open 60 minutes before game time. Season and single game tickets remain on sale and are available here.
The outfield will not be opened for Wednesday's game. All general admission tickets will need to sit in general admission sections in the grandstands. As a reminder, no coolers are allowed in the grandstands.
LEADING OFF
A STAR IS BORN
Freshman Miali Guachino has burst onto the scene as one of the top freshman pitchers in the nation and an early candidate for national freshmn of the year. The Pala, Calif., native has wasted little time in becoming a star, as she broke the Rebels single-game strikeout record with 19 at Southern Miss, shattering the old record of 15. Guachino enters Wednesday at 6-3 with a 1.01 ERA (48.2 IP) and has struck out 79 batters, which leads the SEC and is ahead of the next highest by 18 and ranks second in the NCAA, just one behind 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year NiJaree Canady of Texas Tech.
MACK ATTACK
Freshman infielder Mackenzie Pickens recorded a breakout performance en route to SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 24. Pickens hit .600 over four games at the Rocket City Softball Showcase, tallying a home run, a double, six RBI and two stolen bases.
The Flowery Branch, Ga., native has adjusted to the college game quickly, hitting .349 with two home runs and 14 RBI, while becoming the first SEC Freshman of the Week from Ole Miss since Blaise Biringer in 2021.
MEETING OF THE MINDS
Joining head coach Jamie Trachsel in 2025 are a highly accomplished trio of new coaches, who bring decades of championship experience to Oxford.
A longtime head coach at Missouri, Ehren Earleywine returns to the college game after reaching three Women's College World Series while in Columbia. Earleywine recorded nearly 600 wins over 14 seasons and helped develop countless All-American, All-Region and All-Conference student athletes.
One of the most successful and highly decorated pitchers in NCAA history, Nancy Evans joins as the team's pitching coach. Evans won three national championships in her playing career at the University of Arizona (1994-98) and still holds the NCAA record with a .939 career winning percentage (124-8 overall record). Last season, Evans served on staff at UIC as the Flames' pitching coach, where she helped UIC post a 3.43 team ERA, its best mark since 2018.
A brilliant recruiter and offensive mind, Bobby Buchanan joins the Rebels after a stint at Texas A&M, where he was the director of player development for their NCAA Super Regional squad.
NEW BLOOD
The Rebels feature a number of new faces in 2025, as the team welcomes 16 newcomers, compared to 10 returners to the roster. Eight of the 16 are true freshmen, while the remaining half are transfers. Despite this, the Rebels still have an experienced lineup, with 11 seniors and several transfers with plenty of NCAA Tournament experience.
FAB FRESHMEN
Eight of the 16 newcomers to Oxford are true freshmen, as the Rebels injected some youth into the program. Several of those freshman have already caught national attention, as four were named to Softball America's Freshman Watch List - pitchers Miali Guachino and Abby Herndon, two-way player Persy Llamas and infielder Mackenzie Pickens were all named to the list. Herndon was also named to D1Softball's Top-100 Freshman List.
The quartet is also joined by catcher Rachel Connors, infielder Tate Davis, outfielder Addison Duke and pitcher Graycen Jordan. As a unit the Rebel freshmen provide strong depth to the roster after standout high school careers.
It proved to be a dream start for the freshmen class, as Miali Guachino leads the SEC in strikeouts (79), while Persy Llamas leads the team with 17 RBI. Tate Davis (first hit), Addison Duke (first hit and RBI) and Mackenzie Pickens (SEC Freshman of the Week) also got involved.
SCOUTING MCNEESE
A perennial powerhouse in the Southland Conference, McNeese enters the matchup on Wednesday at 10-4 and is seeking a return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year reprieve.
Much like the Rebels, the Cowgirls head to Oxford on a hot streak, as winners of their last six games. The Rebels and Cowgirls have one common opponent, as both sides earned run rule wins over Missouri State, with Ole Miss winning 9-1 and McNeese winning 17-9.
Head coach James Landreneau has stacked up wins over his nine seasons at McNeese, going 308-165 with five, 40-win seasons under his belt. Sophomore Samantha Mundine has been scorching to open the season, hitting .488 with 11 RBI, while freshman Kassidy Chance is right behind her at .455 with 8 RBI.
The biggest power threat in the lineup is junior Jada Muñoz, who is hitting .395 with nine extra-base hits, four home runs and seven RBI, while sophomore Alexis Dibbley has three home runs to her name.
The Cowgirls are led by a duo of dynamic freshmen in the circle, as Maddie Taylor (5-1, 3.33 ERA) and Kadence Williams (1-2, 2.33 ERA) have seen the bulk of the action. Junior Ryann Schexnayder is another name to watch.
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at @olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
The Rebels (12-3, 0-0 SEC) will face off against the Cowgirls (10-4, 0-0 SLC) in the first home game in the new Ole Miss Softball Stadium. The game will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
Gates will open 60 minutes before game time. Season and single game tickets remain on sale and are available here.
The outfield will not be opened for Wednesday's game. All general admission tickets will need to sit in general admission sections in the grandstands. As a reminder, no coolers are allowed in the grandstands.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss returns home following 15 games on the road to open up the new Ole Miss Softball Stadium on Wednesday night.
- Mackenzie Pickens enters the week as the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, following a .600 batting average, home run and 6 RBI performance in Huntsville, Ala.
- Two-way star Aliyah Binford was named as a preseason Second Team All-American by Softball America as part of several honors since transferring in from Baylor.
- The Rebel freshmen started strong, with Miali Guachino leading the SEC and ranking second in the NCAA in strikeouts (79), and Persy Llamas leading the team in RBI (17).
- Guachino made history at Southern Miss, striking out a program-record 19 batters. It shattered the previous single game record of 15. She followed it up with 14 in a two-hitter over North Alabama on Friday.
- Ole Miss came just one swing short of a program record for consecutive shutouts after tallying four straight shutouts, before a solo home run in the Rebels, 7-1 win over Miami spoiled a fifth straight.
- The Rebels add 16 newcomers in 2025, with eight freshmen and eight transfers joining a group of 10 returners.
A STAR IS BORN
Freshman Miali Guachino has burst onto the scene as one of the top freshman pitchers in the nation and an early candidate for national freshmn of the year. The Pala, Calif., native has wasted little time in becoming a star, as she broke the Rebels single-game strikeout record with 19 at Southern Miss, shattering the old record of 15. Guachino enters Wednesday at 6-3 with a 1.01 ERA (48.2 IP) and has struck out 79 batters, which leads the SEC and is ahead of the next highest by 18 and ranks second in the NCAA, just one behind 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year NiJaree Canady of Texas Tech.
MACK ATTACK
Freshman infielder Mackenzie Pickens recorded a breakout performance en route to SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 24. Pickens hit .600 over four games at the Rocket City Softball Showcase, tallying a home run, a double, six RBI and two stolen bases.
The Flowery Branch, Ga., native has adjusted to the college game quickly, hitting .349 with two home runs and 14 RBI, while becoming the first SEC Freshman of the Week from Ole Miss since Blaise Biringer in 2021.
MEETING OF THE MINDS
Joining head coach Jamie Trachsel in 2025 are a highly accomplished trio of new coaches, who bring decades of championship experience to Oxford.
A longtime head coach at Missouri, Ehren Earleywine returns to the college game after reaching three Women's College World Series while in Columbia. Earleywine recorded nearly 600 wins over 14 seasons and helped develop countless All-American, All-Region and All-Conference student athletes.
One of the most successful and highly decorated pitchers in NCAA history, Nancy Evans joins as the team's pitching coach. Evans won three national championships in her playing career at the University of Arizona (1994-98) and still holds the NCAA record with a .939 career winning percentage (124-8 overall record). Last season, Evans served on staff at UIC as the Flames' pitching coach, where she helped UIC post a 3.43 team ERA, its best mark since 2018.
A brilliant recruiter and offensive mind, Bobby Buchanan joins the Rebels after a stint at Texas A&M, where he was the director of player development for their NCAA Super Regional squad.
NEW BLOOD
The Rebels feature a number of new faces in 2025, as the team welcomes 16 newcomers, compared to 10 returners to the roster. Eight of the 16 are true freshmen, while the remaining half are transfers. Despite this, the Rebels still have an experienced lineup, with 11 seniors and several transfers with plenty of NCAA Tournament experience.
FAB FRESHMEN
Eight of the 16 newcomers to Oxford are true freshmen, as the Rebels injected some youth into the program. Several of those freshman have already caught national attention, as four were named to Softball America's Freshman Watch List - pitchers Miali Guachino and Abby Herndon, two-way player Persy Llamas and infielder Mackenzie Pickens were all named to the list. Herndon was also named to D1Softball's Top-100 Freshman List.
The quartet is also joined by catcher Rachel Connors, infielder Tate Davis, outfielder Addison Duke and pitcher Graycen Jordan. As a unit the Rebel freshmen provide strong depth to the roster after standout high school careers.
It proved to be a dream start for the freshmen class, as Miali Guachino leads the SEC in strikeouts (79), while Persy Llamas leads the team with 17 RBI. Tate Davis (first hit), Addison Duke (first hit and RBI) and Mackenzie Pickens (SEC Freshman of the Week) also got involved.
SCOUTING MCNEESE
A perennial powerhouse in the Southland Conference, McNeese enters the matchup on Wednesday at 10-4 and is seeking a return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year reprieve.
Much like the Rebels, the Cowgirls head to Oxford on a hot streak, as winners of their last six games. The Rebels and Cowgirls have one common opponent, as both sides earned run rule wins over Missouri State, with Ole Miss winning 9-1 and McNeese winning 17-9.
Head coach James Landreneau has stacked up wins over his nine seasons at McNeese, going 308-165 with five, 40-win seasons under his belt. Sophomore Samantha Mundine has been scorching to open the season, hitting .488 with 11 RBI, while freshman Kassidy Chance is right behind her at .455 with 8 RBI.
The biggest power threat in the lineup is junior Jada Muñoz, who is hitting .395 with nine extra-base hits, four home runs and seven RBI, while sophomore Alexis Dibbley has three home runs to her name.
The Cowgirls are led by a duo of dynamic freshmen in the circle, as Maddie Taylor (5-1, 3.33 ERA) and Kadence Williams (1-2, 2.33 ERA) have seen the bulk of the action. Junior Ryann Schexnayder is another name to watch.
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at @olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
Players Mentioned
RHP/INF
/ Softball
C/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
LHP/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballWhy Not Us? - Lexie Brady and Aliyah Binford (Softball)
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