The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, March 14
Oxford, Miss.
2:30 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Samford
No. 16 Softball Welcomes Trio for Rebel Invitational
3/13/2025 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 16 Ole Miss softball program is back in action this weekend, hosting a trio of teams for the Rebel Invitational, from Friday through Sunday at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
The Rebels (21-4, 2-1 SEC) will open up with a pair of games against Samford (17-10, 0-0 SoCon) and North Dakota State (12-14, 0-0 Summit) at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT, respectively. The Rebels will also face Iowa State (10-11, 1-2 Big 12) on Sunday.
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 .346 start, hitting six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 23 RBI and slugging .577, while also holding a 1.89 ERA through nine 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 will be a mainstay in the middle of the Rebel lineup in 2025.
The power surge has continued in 2025, as Brady is hitting .382 with a team-high seven home runs and 21 RBI. After starting the season 0-11 at Florida Atlantic, Brady has surged to a .477 batting average since and has six home runs in her last 11 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 .369 with four home runs and 21 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 SAMFORD
After a successful 2024 campaign at Birmingham Southern, head coach Megan Curry has the Bulldogs off to a strong start in her first season, entering the week at 16-10 in their final week before SoCon play.
Sophomore Olivia Shaw leads a potent lineup, hitting .372 with nine doubles, three home runs and 26 RBI. Fellow sophomore Katie Campbell is another key run producer with 22 driven in on the season.
Senior Jordyn Partain is the team's ace, going 6-6 with a 3.86 ERA over 61.2 innings pitched. Her teammates have been key in relief however, as Olivia Treece (2.45 ERA) and Olivia Trout (2.57 ERA) have been key pieces in the rotation.
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Despite a four-game winning streak coming to an end on Tuesday, the 12-13 Bison continue their lengthy season-opening road swing that will take them all the way to April.
24-year head coach Darren Mueller, who spent six-years alongside Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel in Fargo, has the Bison looking improved after an off year in 2024. Rylee Henderson is the team's most efficient hitter, hitting .361 with 14 RBI. Bella Dean is the biggest long ball threat in the lineup, with five of her team's eight home runs and 20 RBI on the season.
The rotation features four different arms used frequently, but each giving up plenty of contact, to the tune of a .331 batting average against. Kaitlyn Dunford has had the most success thus far, going 3-0 with a 3.33 ERA.
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
Entering action at 10-11 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play, the Cyclones are looking to generate momentum before a key stretch of conference games. Head coach Jamie Pinkerton leads the team in his 20th season as a head coach and eighth at Iowa State.
Iowa State features one of the more promising freshmen in the conference in Jessie Clemons, who has hit a scorching .449 with 11 extra-base hits, three home runs and 20 RBI. Sydney Malott and Angelina Allen are key power bats, with nine home runs between each other.
Pitching has been more of an issue, as the staff features a 4.68 ERA and .303 batting average against. However, sophomore Lauren Schurman has shined, going 4-6 with a 2.96 ERA over a team high 47.1 innings pitched.
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 (21-4, 2-1 SEC) will open up with a pair of games against Samford (17-10, 0-0 SoCon) and North Dakota State (12-14, 0-0 Summit) at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT, respectively. The Rebels will also face Iowa State (10-11, 1-2 Big 12) on Sunday.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss returns home for their second of two home tournaments, welcoming North Dakota State, Samford and Iowa State to town.
- The Rebels moved up to No. 16 in Softball America's rankings, good for their highest ranking in any poll since the 2019 postseason.
- 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 (29). Mackenzie Pickens also recently earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
- Llamas continues to be a force at the plate, reaching safely in 22 of 25 collegiate games played.
- 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.
- Head coach Jamie Trachsel will face off against a pair of programs she once coached at, welcoming North Dakota State (six seasons as co-head coach) and Iowa State (one season as head coach).
- The Rebels are playing their final non-conference home weekend, with just one non-conference game remaining in April vs. UT Martin.
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 .346 start, hitting six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 23 RBI and slugging .577, while also holding a 1.89 ERA through nine 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 will be a mainstay in the middle of the Rebel lineup in 2025.
The power surge has continued in 2025, as Brady is hitting .382 with a team-high seven home runs and 21 RBI. After starting the season 0-11 at Florida Atlantic, Brady has surged to a .477 batting average since and has six home runs in her last 11 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 .369 with four home runs and 21 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 SAMFORD
After a successful 2024 campaign at Birmingham Southern, head coach Megan Curry has the Bulldogs off to a strong start in her first season, entering the week at 16-10 in their final week before SoCon play.
Sophomore Olivia Shaw leads a potent lineup, hitting .372 with nine doubles, three home runs and 26 RBI. Fellow sophomore Katie Campbell is another key run producer with 22 driven in on the season.
Senior Jordyn Partain is the team's ace, going 6-6 with a 3.86 ERA over 61.2 innings pitched. Her teammates have been key in relief however, as Olivia Treece (2.45 ERA) and Olivia Trout (2.57 ERA) have been key pieces in the rotation.
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Despite a four-game winning streak coming to an end on Tuesday, the 12-13 Bison continue their lengthy season-opening road swing that will take them all the way to April.
24-year head coach Darren Mueller, who spent six-years alongside Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel in Fargo, has the Bison looking improved after an off year in 2024. Rylee Henderson is the team's most efficient hitter, hitting .361 with 14 RBI. Bella Dean is the biggest long ball threat in the lineup, with five of her team's eight home runs and 20 RBI on the season.
The rotation features four different arms used frequently, but each giving up plenty of contact, to the tune of a .331 batting average against. Kaitlyn Dunford has had the most success thus far, going 3-0 with a 3.33 ERA.
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
Entering action at 10-11 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play, the Cyclones are looking to generate momentum before a key stretch of conference games. Head coach Jamie Pinkerton leads the team in his 20th season as a head coach and eighth at Iowa State.
Iowa State features one of the more promising freshmen in the conference in Jessie Clemons, who has hit a scorching .449 with 11 extra-base hits, three home runs and 20 RBI. Sydney Malott and Angelina Allen are key power bats, with nine home runs between each other.
Pitching has been more of an issue, as the staff features a 4.68 ERA and .303 batting average against. However, sophomore Lauren Schurman has shined, going 4-6 with a 2.96 ERA over a team high 47.1 innings pitched.
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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