The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
22-4
Samford
18-12
Freshmen Shine as No. 16 Softball Earns Pair of Run Rule Wins
3/14/2025 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 16 Ole Miss softball program earned a pair of run rule victories to open up play at the Rebel Invitational, downing Samford and North Dakota State on Friday at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
It was a big day for the freshmen class, as Miali Guachino threw a five-inning no hitter in a 10-0 win over the Bulldogs (18-12, 0-0 SoCon). From there, Rachel Connors, Tate Davis and Mackenzie Pickens combined for six RBI in a 9-1 win over North Dakota State (13-16, 0-0 Summit).
GAME ONE | Ole Miss 10, Samford 0 (F/5)
The freshman Guachino proved to be masterful in the circle the entire game. Guachino opened with two strikeouts in the first inning, before her offense picked her up in bottom half of the frame.
After Lair Beautae drew a hit-by-pitch, Aliyah Binford promptly brought her home with an RBI double. Lexie Brady added another run on a groundout, but the Rebels delivered a second wave in the inning with two outs, as Pickens singled and Jaden Pone drove home a third run.
Guachino continued to rack up strikeouts and the Rebels would add to her advantage in the bottom of the third. Binford led off the inning with a solo home run, as part of a 3-for-3 effort that fell just a triple shy of the cycle. Pickens and Pone would team up to generate another run, as Pickens singled and stole second base, before Pone doubled her home for a 5-0 lead.
The game would unravel in the fourth inning, as Taylor Malvin singled, Beautae walked and Binford singled to load the bases. Persy Llamas continued her highly efficient start to the year, driving in two runs on an RBI single to make it 7-0. Brady would put the game away with a towering three-run home run on the next at-bat, making it 10-0.
With an opportunity to record a five-inning no-hitter, Guachino did not disappoint, striking out the side to finish the day with eight strikeouts and the Rebels’ second no-hitter of the season.
GAME TWO | Ole Miss 9, North Dakota State 1 (F/5)
The Rebels found themselves in a tight battle early on, as Alison Cooper and the Bison’s Piper Reed went toe-to-toe. However, the Rebels were able to do more with their chances early in the game and took an early lead.
The Rebels loaded the bases on three-straight free passes to Brady, Pickens and Pone. Connors would step to the plate for a pinch-hit opportunity and calmy laced a two-run single to center field for her first collegiate RBI and a 2-0 lead. Malvin would go on to add another run late in the frame to lead 3-0.
The Bison answered with a run in the third inning, but that didn’t deter the Rebels, who were able to manufacture a run off a Binford single, Llamas walk, a groundout and a Pickens sacrifice fly.
Much like the third inning, the Rebels utilized a leadoff double by Angelina DeLeon to extend the lead. A Malvin single and Beautae groundout made it 5-1.
Cooper polished off a four-hit, one run performance in the top of the fifth inning, adding her third strikeout to maintain the Rebel lead. Her teammates ensured she would not need a sixth inning, as the offense clicked in the bottom half of the frame.
Llamas, Brady and Pickens delivered three consecutive doubles, scoring two runs to make it 7-1. Next up would be the freshman Davis, who made her first at-bat count, blasting a two-run home run for her first collegiate home run to walk the game off in the fifth.
Ole Miss is back in action on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT, as they welcome Iowa State. The game will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
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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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cooper, Alison (2-0)
L: Piper Reed (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Star Cortez 1 ; Bella Dean 1
RBI: Star Cortez 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jasmyn Yessian 1
Batting:
2B: Llamas, Persy 1 ; Brady, Lexie 1 ; Pickens, Mackenzie 1 ; DeLeon, Angelina 1
HR: Davis, Tate 1
RBI: Malvin, Taylor 1 ; Beautae, Lair 1 ; Brady, Lexie 1 ; Pickens, Mackenzie 2 ; Connors, Rachel 2 ; Davis, Tate 2
SF: Pickens, Mackenzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ferguson, Star 1 ; Grisham, Tenly 1 ; Brady, Lexie 1 ; Rosales, Alexa 1 ; Pickens, Mackenzie 2 ; Pone, Jaden 1 ; Davis, Tate 1 ; DeLeon, Angelina 1
SB: Malvin, Taylor 2 ; Ferguson, Star 1 ; Starr, Ryan 1
HBP: Brady, Lexie 1
