The University of Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, March 11
Bowling Green, Ky.
5 PM
Ole Miss
at
Western Kentucky
No. 25 Softball Set for Midweek Matchup at Western Kentucky
3/10/2025 | Softball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Fresh off a series win over No. 10 Arkansas to open SEC play, the No. 25 Ole Miss softball program hits the road for a midweek clash at Western Kentucky on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT.
The Rebels (20-4, 2-1 SEC) will matchup with the Hilltoppers (14-8, 1-2 CUSA) for the final non-conference road test of the Rebels regular season. The game will be streamed via ESPN Plus.
LEADING OFF
ALL EYES ON ALIYAH
Two-way star Aliyah Binford joins the Rebels for her final season of eligibility after a standout career in the circle and at the plate at Baylor and has generated talk since arriving in Oxford. Binford has gotten off to a .360 start, hitting six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 23 RBI and slugging .600, while also holding a 1.52 ERA through eight appearances in the circle.
Her efforts in the circle have caught national attention and placed her in the Ole Miss record books after being named the SEC Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 3. Binford delivered back-to-back complete games last week, beginning with a one-hitter against Nicholls and ending the week with the program's first solo no-hitter since 2014 in a win over Murray State.
BRADY BOMBS
Perhaps the most critical returning bat for the Rebels is the veteran Lexie Brady, who brings a powerful bat to the middle of the lineup. Brady launched a career-high 13 home runs and 35 RBI in her breakout junior campaign and is a mainstay in the middle of the Rebel lineup in 2025.
The power surge has continued in 2025, as Brady is hitting .396 with a team-high seven home runs and 20 RBI. After starting the season 0-for-11 in the season-opening Paradise Classic, Brady has surged to a .500 batting average since and has six home runs in her last 10 games.
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 Tuesday at 9-4 with a 1.60 ERA (70.0 IP) and has struck out 104 batters, which leads the SEC and ranks fourth in the nation. Guachino has tallied seven 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 .359 with three home runs and 19 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.
SCOUTING WESTERN KENTUCKY
At 14-8 and 1-2 in Conference USA action, the Hilltoppers will host the Rebels following a 2-1 series loss to Sam Houston.
Head coach Amy Tudor is in her 12th season at the helm and seeking her eighth consecutive winning season and has started well, with several strong performances in non-conference action, including narrow defeats against No. 23 Kentucky and Georgia Tech.
Ex-Virginia Tech infielder Maci Masters has been pacing the Hilltoppers early in 2025, as the sophomore is hitting .318 with 10 extra-base hits, four home runs and 14 RBI. 2024 All-CUSA Second Team honoree and fellow sophomore Morgan Sharpe is another key bat, hitting a team high .342 with 13 RBI.
Pitching has been exceptionally balanced for Western Kentucky, with three pitchers recording at least 35 innings pitched this season. Sophomore Rylan Smith is the team's premier strikeout pitcher early this season, going 5-2 with 2.84 ERA (49.1 IP) and 49 strikeouts. Junior Maddy Wood (4-1, 2.93 ERA) and freshman Erica Hogue (4-5, 2.58 ERA) have also been arms.
After recording a 12-inning marathon win over Sam Houston in game one, Western Kentucky was unable to strike back for the series winner, falling 8-4 and 2-0 to the Bearkats.
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 (20-4, 2-1 SEC) will matchup with the Hilltoppers (14-8, 1-2 CUSA) for the final non-conference road test of the Rebels regular season. The game will be streamed via ESPN Plus.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss travels north to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the final true road non-conference game of the 2025 season.
- The Rebels and Hilltoppers continue their budding all-time series and are meeting for the sixth time in the last four seasons after just two prior meetings.
- The Rebels moved up to No. 16 in Softball America's rankings on Monday, good for their highest ranking in any poll since the 2019 postseason.
- Aliyah Binford entered the Arkansas series as the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week, following back-to-back complete games, in which she threw a one-hitter vs. Nicholls and a no-hitter vs. Murray State. Binford added a complete game victory in her lone start against the No. 10 Razorbacks.
- The Rebel freshmen have been dynamic with Miali Guachino ranks fourth in the nation in strikeouts (104), and Persy Llamas leads the team in RBI (27). Mackenzie Pickens also recently earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
- At 104 strikeouts, Guachino already has the most strikeouts in a single season by a Rebel since Savannah Diederich (131) in 2021. Guachino needs just 32 more strikeouts to enter the top-10 single season list at Ole Miss.
- Ole Miss has outscored opponents a combined 28-1 in three games following a loss this season.
ALL EYES ON ALIYAH
Two-way star Aliyah Binford joins the Rebels for her final season of eligibility after a standout career in the circle and at the plate at Baylor and has generated talk since arriving in Oxford. Binford has gotten off to a .360 start, hitting six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 23 RBI and slugging .600, while also holding a 1.52 ERA through eight appearances in the circle.
Her efforts in the circle have caught national attention and placed her in the Ole Miss record books after being named the SEC Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 3. Binford delivered back-to-back complete games last week, beginning with a one-hitter against Nicholls and ending the week with the program's first solo no-hitter since 2014 in a win over Murray State.
BRADY BOMBS
Perhaps the most critical returning bat for the Rebels is the veteran Lexie Brady, who brings a powerful bat to the middle of the lineup. Brady launched a career-high 13 home runs and 35 RBI in her breakout junior campaign and is a mainstay in the middle of the Rebel lineup in 2025.
The power surge has continued in 2025, as Brady is hitting .396 with a team-high seven home runs and 20 RBI. After starting the season 0-for-11 in the season-opening Paradise Classic, Brady has surged to a .500 batting average since and has six home runs in her last 10 games.
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 Tuesday at 9-4 with a 1.60 ERA (70.0 IP) and has struck out 104 batters, which leads the SEC and ranks fourth in the nation. Guachino has tallied seven 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 .359 with three home runs and 19 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.
SCOUTING WESTERN KENTUCKY
At 14-8 and 1-2 in Conference USA action, the Hilltoppers will host the Rebels following a 2-1 series loss to Sam Houston.
Head coach Amy Tudor is in her 12th season at the helm and seeking her eighth consecutive winning season and has started well, with several strong performances in non-conference action, including narrow defeats against No. 23 Kentucky and Georgia Tech.
Ex-Virginia Tech infielder Maci Masters has been pacing the Hilltoppers early in 2025, as the sophomore is hitting .318 with 10 extra-base hits, four home runs and 14 RBI. 2024 All-CUSA Second Team honoree and fellow sophomore Morgan Sharpe is another key bat, hitting a team high .342 with 13 RBI.
Pitching has been exceptionally balanced for Western Kentucky, with three pitchers recording at least 35 innings pitched this season. Sophomore Rylan Smith is the team's premier strikeout pitcher early this season, going 5-2 with 2.84 ERA (49.1 IP) and 49 strikeouts. Junior Maddy Wood (4-1, 2.93 ERA) and freshman Erica Hogue (4-5, 2.58 ERA) have also been arms.
After recording a 12-inning marathon win over Sam Houston in game one, Western Kentucky was unable to strike back for the series winner, falling 8-4 and 2-0 to the Bearkats.
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
RHP
/ Softball
LHP/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballWhy Not Us? - Lexie Brady and Aliyah Binford (Softball)
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