The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, February 28
Oxford, Miss.
3:30 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Nicholls
Softball Hosts Trio for Ole Miss Classic
2/27/2025 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss softball program returns to action this weekend, hosting three teams for the Ole Miss Classic from Friday through Sunday at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
The Rebels (13-3, 0-0 SEC) will welcome Nicholls (6-9, 0-0 SLC), South Alabama (9-6, 0-0 Sun Belt) and Murray State (4-6, 0-0 MVC) as the facility hosts 10 games, including five for the hosts. The Rebels open against the Colonels at 3:30 p.m., before hosting the Jaguars at 6 p.m. CT.
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 freshman 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 the weekend at 7-3 with a 0.88 ERA (55.2 IP) and has struck out 89 batters, which leads both the SEC and the nation. Guachino has tallied five complete games, three solo shutouts and has four performances with 10 or more strikeouts.
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 .370 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 nation in strikeouts (89), 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 NICHOLLS
The Colonels head to Oxford with a 6-9 record in the first season for first-year head coach Ron Frost, but enter with momentum on the heels of a 6-4 win over Penn State on Saturday.
Nicholls enters on a strong offensive pace, hitting .302 as a unit but with limited power, having just one home run on the season. Freshman Ally Mooneyham (.447 BA) and junior Claire Sisco (.421 BA, 5 XBH) have started hot for the young Colonels. However, pitching is a concern early in 2025, with the Colonels owning a collective team ERA of 6.07.
The Rebels and Colonels have several common opponents this season, with both sides defeating Missouri State, while the Rebels defeated North Alabama and Nicholls dropped a pair to the Lions.
SCOUTING SOUTH ALABAMA
The Jaguars bring another formidable team to the table in 2025, as head coach Becky Clark leads the team in her 19th season as they take on the talented Sun Belt Conference.
With a sweep of Notre Dame and a near takedown of then No. 10 Arizona, the Jaguars have risen to the occasion at 9-6 in 2025. Senior Gabby Stagner leads a keen offense, hitting .278 with six home runs and 17 RBI. Senior Sidney Lee and freshman Presley Lively are each hitting over .300 as well.
The team leans heavily on sophomore Ryley Harrison in the circle, as Harrison holds a 3-2 record and 3.66 ERA (44.0 IP), with just over half the team's total innings and has recorded five complete games. Juniors Tori Miller and Olivia Cato are key pieces out of the bullpen for the Jaguars.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
At 4-6 in 2025, the Racers are looking to build momentum, after hosting their season-opening Velvet Milkman Classic last week. 13th year head coach Kara Amundson is looking to return the Racers to former glory, after leading them to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2022.
Pitching is a strength for the Racers, as the team is led by junior Bre Haislip, who enters at 1-3 with a 2.07 ERA (27.0 IP). As a unit, the team holds a 2.63 ERA.
Junior Ailey Schyck is the key run producer for the Racers, hitting .261 with four home runs and 10 RBI. Two-way junior Ava Ozment is also off to a strong start, hitting .350 with three RBI.
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 (13-3, 0-0 SEC) will welcome Nicholls (6-9, 0-0 SLC), South Alabama (9-6, 0-0 Sun Belt) and Murray State (4-6, 0-0 MVC) as the facility hosts 10 games, including five for the hosts. The Rebels open against the Colonels at 3:30 p.m., before hosting the Jaguars at 6 p.m. CT.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss welcomes three programs for the Ole Miss Classic in the first week of action at the brand new Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
- 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 have started strong, with Miali Guachino leading the nation in strikeouts (89), and Persy Llamas leads 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.
- 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 freshman 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 the weekend at 7-3 with a 0.88 ERA (55.2 IP) and has struck out 89 batters, which leads both the SEC and the nation. Guachino has tallied five complete games, three solo shutouts and has four performances with 10 or more strikeouts.
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 .370 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 nation in strikeouts (89), 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 NICHOLLS
The Colonels head to Oxford with a 6-9 record in the first season for first-year head coach Ron Frost, but enter with momentum on the heels of a 6-4 win over Penn State on Saturday.
Nicholls enters on a strong offensive pace, hitting .302 as a unit but with limited power, having just one home run on the season. Freshman Ally Mooneyham (.447 BA) and junior Claire Sisco (.421 BA, 5 XBH) have started hot for the young Colonels. However, pitching is a concern early in 2025, with the Colonels owning a collective team ERA of 6.07.
The Rebels and Colonels have several common opponents this season, with both sides defeating Missouri State, while the Rebels defeated North Alabama and Nicholls dropped a pair to the Lions.
SCOUTING SOUTH ALABAMA
The Jaguars bring another formidable team to the table in 2025, as head coach Becky Clark leads the team in her 19th season as they take on the talented Sun Belt Conference.
With a sweep of Notre Dame and a near takedown of then No. 10 Arizona, the Jaguars have risen to the occasion at 9-6 in 2025. Senior Gabby Stagner leads a keen offense, hitting .278 with six home runs and 17 RBI. Senior Sidney Lee and freshman Presley Lively are each hitting over .300 as well.
The team leans heavily on sophomore Ryley Harrison in the circle, as Harrison holds a 3-2 record and 3.66 ERA (44.0 IP), with just over half the team's total innings and has recorded five complete games. Juniors Tori Miller and Olivia Cato are key pieces out of the bullpen for the Jaguars.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
At 4-6 in 2025, the Racers are looking to build momentum, after hosting their season-opening Velvet Milkman Classic last week. 13th year head coach Kara Amundson is looking to return the Racers to former glory, after leading them to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2022.
Pitching is a strength for the Racers, as the team is led by junior Bre Haislip, who enters at 1-3 with a 2.07 ERA (27.0 IP). As a unit, the team holds a 2.63 ERA.
Junior Ailey Schyck is the key run producer for the Racers, hitting .261 with four home runs and 10 RBI. Two-way junior Ava Ozment is also off to a strong start, hitting .350 with three RBI.
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
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