The University of Mississippi Athletics
Sunday, March 30
Oxford, Miss.
11 AM
Ole Miss
vs
Missouri
No. 19 Softball Set for SEC Clash with Missouri
3/28/2025 | Softball
OXFORD, Mis. – The No. 19 Ole Miss Softball program is back in action this weekend, hosting Missouri for a key three-game set from Saturday, through Monday at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
The Rebels (26-6, 3-3 SEC) return home for the second of four SEC home series this season, welcoming the Tigers (18-16, 1-5 SEC). The Rebels and Tigers will play game one on Saturday at 2 p.m., game two on Sunday at 2 p.m., and the finale on Monday at 6 p.m. CT. The finale will be broadcast on the SEC Network, while the other games will be on SEC Network 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 .337 start, hitting eight doubles, three triples, five home runs, 31 RBI and slugging .615, while also holding a 2.49 ERA through 12 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 that 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 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 has reached new heights in 2025.
The power surge has continued for Brady, who is hitting .389 with a team-high 10 home runs and 30 RBI. After starting the season 0-11 at Florida Atlantic, Brady has surged to a .459 batting average in the 26 games since and has nine home runs in her last 18 games.
Brady continues to pound the ball at the plate and has now recorded at least one extra-base hit in four consecutive games and at least one extra-base hit in 13 of her last 18 games played.
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. She followed that up with her first collegiate no-hitter against Samford and SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors on Mar. 18.
Guachino enters the weekend at 11-5 with a 1.87 ERA (93.2 IP) and has struck out 134 batters, which leads the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation. Guachino has tallied nine complete games, five 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 .381 with four home runs and 23 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 MISSOURI
Following a Super Regional appearance in 2024, the Missouri Tigers are back and looking to recapture the form of last season, entering the weekend at 18-16 and 1-5 in the SEC. The Tigers have shown boom or bust potential in 2025, becoming the first team to take down then No. 1 Oklahoma last weekend, but promptly falling 3-0 to Kansas on Wednesday.
Head coach Larissa Anderson has led the Tigers to two Super Regionals and five NCAA Tournaments in total, tallying 235 wins as she enters her seventh season. Her roster features several returners from last season's 48-win club, but did lose the dynamic Jenna Laird, Alex Honnold and Maddie Gallagher on the offensive side.
The offense is led by Julia Crenshaw, who has surged to a .376 batting average with nine home runs, 11 doubles and 24 RBI this season. Sophomore Madison Walker is a major power threat, hitting 13 home runs and leading the team with 34 RBI, while hitting .257.
The Tigers have a number of pitchers who have provided key innings in various roles, but do lean heavily on Cierra Harrison and Marissa McCann as starting pitchers, as holdovers from last season. McCann leads the team with a 7-6 record and 3.34 ERA (92.1 IP), while Harrison has tallied 70 strikeouts in 68.0 IP, while going 7-5 with a 3.91 ERA.
This weekend will mark Missouri's first trip to Oxford since 2022, where the Rebels earned a series sweep and the first meeting since the 2024 SEC Tournament, where the Tigers eliminated the Rebels in a tight, 3-1 decision.
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 (26-6, 3-3 SEC) return home for the second of four SEC home series this season, welcoming the Tigers (18-16, 1-5 SEC). The Rebels and Tigers will play game one on Saturday at 2 p.m., game two on Sunday at 2 p.m., and the finale on Monday at 6 p.m. CT. The finale will be broadcast on the SEC Network, while the other games will be on SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss welcomes Missouri to Oxford for the first time since 2022, when the Rebels earned a series sweep.
- After the Tigers won the first 10 games of the all-time series, the ledger has tightened since, with the Rebels leading the Tigers 10-8 over the next 18 games.
- Lexie Brady remains one of the hottest hitters in the SEC, hitting nine home runs in her last 18 games and has hit .459 with all 10 of her home runs since opening the season 0-for-11.
- The Rebel freshmen have been dynamic with Miali Guachino ranks sixth in the nation in strikeouts (134), and Persy Llamas leads the team in RBI (34). Mackenzie Pickens also recently earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
- Llamas continues to be a force at the plate, reaching safely in 28 of 32 collegiate games played.
- At 134 strikeouts, Guachino already has the most strikeouts in a single season by a Rebel since Molly Jacobsen (166) in 2019. Guachino needs just two more strikeouts to enter the top-10 single season list at Ole Miss.
- The Rebels have been adept at responding to a loss, winning all five games following a loss and outscoring opponents 43-10.
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 .337 start, hitting eight doubles, three triples, five home runs, 31 RBI and slugging .615, while also holding a 2.49 ERA through 12 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 that 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 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 has reached new heights in 2025.
The power surge has continued for Brady, who is hitting .389 with a team-high 10 home runs and 30 RBI. After starting the season 0-11 at Florida Atlantic, Brady has surged to a .459 batting average in the 26 games since and has nine home runs in her last 18 games.
Brady continues to pound the ball at the plate and has now recorded at least one extra-base hit in four consecutive games and at least one extra-base hit in 13 of her last 18 games played.
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. She followed that up with her first collegiate no-hitter against Samford and SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors on Mar. 18.
Guachino enters the weekend at 11-5 with a 1.87 ERA (93.2 IP) and has struck out 134 batters, which leads the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation. Guachino has tallied nine complete games, five 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 .381 with four home runs and 23 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 MISSOURI
Following a Super Regional appearance in 2024, the Missouri Tigers are back and looking to recapture the form of last season, entering the weekend at 18-16 and 1-5 in the SEC. The Tigers have shown boom or bust potential in 2025, becoming the first team to take down then No. 1 Oklahoma last weekend, but promptly falling 3-0 to Kansas on Wednesday.
Head coach Larissa Anderson has led the Tigers to two Super Regionals and five NCAA Tournaments in total, tallying 235 wins as she enters her seventh season. Her roster features several returners from last season's 48-win club, but did lose the dynamic Jenna Laird, Alex Honnold and Maddie Gallagher on the offensive side.
The offense is led by Julia Crenshaw, who has surged to a .376 batting average with nine home runs, 11 doubles and 24 RBI this season. Sophomore Madison Walker is a major power threat, hitting 13 home runs and leading the team with 34 RBI, while hitting .257.
The Tigers have a number of pitchers who have provided key innings in various roles, but do lean heavily on Cierra Harrison and Marissa McCann as starting pitchers, as holdovers from last season. McCann leads the team with a 7-6 record and 3.34 ERA (92.1 IP), while Harrison has tallied 70 strikeouts in 68.0 IP, while going 7-5 with a 3.91 ERA.
This weekend will mark Missouri's first trip to Oxford since 2022, where the Rebels earned a series sweep and the first meeting since the 2024 SEC Tournament, where the Tigers eliminated the Rebels in a tight, 3-1 decision.
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
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C/UT
/ Softball
RHP
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LHP/UT
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INF
/ SoftballWhy Not Us? - Lexie Brady and Aliyah Binford (Softball)
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