The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, April 11
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Florida
No. 17 Softball Hosts No. 6 Florida for Marquee SEC Series
4/10/2025 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 17 Ole Miss softball program returns to SEC play and welcomes No. 6 Florida for a three-game series this weekend at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
The Rebels (30-9, 6-6 SEC) welcome a top-10 opponent to Oxford for the second time this season, hosting the Gators (35-8, 7-5 SEC) with the opener set for Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Saturday will begin at 2 p.m. CT and Sunday will conclude the series at 1 p.m. CT.
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 .347 start, hitting 10 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 35 RBI and slugging .597, while also holding an 8-0 record and 2.36 ERA through 15 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 13 home runs and 35 RBI in her breakout junior campaign and has surged to even new heights in 2025.
The power surge has continued for Brady, who is hitting .385 with a career-high 14 home runs and 39 RBI. After starting the season 0-11 at Florida Atlantic, Brady has surged to a .438 batting average in the 33 games since and has 13 home runs in her last 25 games.
Brady continues to pound the ball at the plate and has at least one extra-base hit in 16 of her last 25 games played. Her 14 home runs are the most by any Rebel since 2007 and stand just one away from the single-season record set by DeDe Justice in 2003 (15).
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 13-8 with a 2.20 ERA (114.2 IP) and has struck out 159 batters, which leads the SEC and ranks ninth in the nation. Guachino has tallied 11 complete games, six solo shutouts and has four performances with 10 or more strikeouts.
FRESHMAN SENSATION
Persy Llamas has been a revelation in her first season in Oxford, from the moment she stepped on a field. From her very first collegiate at-bat, where she hit a pinch hit three-run home run to take the lead in a 3-2 win over No. 25 Clemson to now ranking second on the Rebels in total RBI (36), Llamas has proven to be a highly capable batter at first base.
Clutch play from Llamas has continued in SEC play, as the freshman hit a go-ahead, solo home run to power the Rebels past Missouri in game two and clinch the series. As a result, Llamas was named the SEC's Co-Freshman of the Week on Apr. 1.
Llamas opened her collegiate career with 81 at-bats without a strikeout, good for the most by a Rebel since Hailey Lunderman in 2016 and remains one of the most difficult to strikeout in the nation.
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 .356 with five home runs and 26 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.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
A consistent, national power, the Florida Gators once again have their eyes on a trip to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series, as head coach Tim Walton has the No. 6 Gators off to a 35-8 start, following a win over Stetson on Wednesday.
Despite the lofty rankings, the Gators dropped their most recent SEC series, taking just one of three against then No. 12 Arkansas. Nevertheless, the Gators remain in striking distance of conference leading Texas, standing just three games back with 12 games to play.
The Gators have a number of weapons, with perhaps no one as promising as freshman Taylor Shumaker, who is hitting a sizzling .379 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles and 58 RBI, while also stealing 17 bases. Kendra Falby has been a star for the Gators for years, hitting a team-high .449 with 20 RBI and 32 stolen bases, while Mia Williams (13 HR), Reagan Walsh (12 HR) and Jocelyn Erickson (11 HR) have also dominated for much of this season.
A young rotation has shined for the Gators, with sophomores Ava Brown and Keagan Rothrock, as well as freshman Katelynn Oxley seeing the most action. Rothrock features a team-low ERA of 1.80 ERA (62.1 IP) and a 9-2 record, while Brown (9-1, 2.62 ERA) and Oxley (5-4, 2.23 ERA) are right behind her. Senior Kara Hammock and sophomore Olivia Miller also factor into the bullpen.
The Rebels are looking for their first series win over the Gators since 2019, which also took place in Oxford. All of the series wins for Ole Miss in the all-time ledger have come in Oxford. The series will be their first since 2023, when the Rebels took a game off then No. 14 Florida in Gainesville for the first time in nine years.
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 (30-9, 6-6 SEC) welcome a top-10 opponent to Oxford for the second time this season, hosting the Gators (35-8, 7-5 SEC) with the opener set for Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Saturday will begin at 2 p.m. CT and Sunday will conclude the series at 1 p.m. CT.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss enters the home stretch against a gauntlet of 12 games against ranked SEC opponents, that begins with No. 6 Florida.
- Jaden Pone enters the weekend on fire, with four consecutive multi-hit games in SEC play.
- Lexie Brady remains one of the hottest hitters in the SEC, hitting 13 home runs in her last 25 games and has hit .438 with all 14 of her home runs since opening the season 0-for-11.
- Brady has been particularly impactful in SEC play, hitting .419 with eight extra-base hits in eight games, including five home runs and 11 RBI.
- The Rebel freshmen have been dynamic with Miali Guachino ranking ninth in the nation in strikeouts (159), and Persy Llamas ranks second on the team in RBI (36). Mackenzie Pickens also recently earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
- Llamas continues to be a force at the plate, reaching safely in 33 of 39 collegiate games played.
- At 159 strikeouts, Guachino already has the most strikeouts in a single season by a Rebel since Molly Jacobsen (166) in 2019. Guachino recently entered the top-10 single season list at Ole Miss and currently stands in fifth.
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 .347 start, hitting 10 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 35 RBI and slugging .597, while also holding an 8-0 record and 2.36 ERA through 15 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 13 home runs and 35 RBI in her breakout junior campaign and has surged to even new heights in 2025.
The power surge has continued for Brady, who is hitting .385 with a career-high 14 home runs and 39 RBI. After starting the season 0-11 at Florida Atlantic, Brady has surged to a .438 batting average in the 33 games since and has 13 home runs in her last 25 games.
Brady continues to pound the ball at the plate and has at least one extra-base hit in 16 of her last 25 games played. Her 14 home runs are the most by any Rebel since 2007 and stand just one away from the single-season record set by DeDe Justice in 2003 (15).
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 13-8 with a 2.20 ERA (114.2 IP) and has struck out 159 batters, which leads the SEC and ranks ninth in the nation. Guachino has tallied 11 complete games, six solo shutouts and has four performances with 10 or more strikeouts.
FRESHMAN SENSATION
Persy Llamas has been a revelation in her first season in Oxford, from the moment she stepped on a field. From her very first collegiate at-bat, where she hit a pinch hit three-run home run to take the lead in a 3-2 win over No. 25 Clemson to now ranking second on the Rebels in total RBI (36), Llamas has proven to be a highly capable batter at first base.
Clutch play from Llamas has continued in SEC play, as the freshman hit a go-ahead, solo home run to power the Rebels past Missouri in game two and clinch the series. As a result, Llamas was named the SEC's Co-Freshman of the Week on Apr. 1.
Llamas opened her collegiate career with 81 at-bats without a strikeout, good for the most by a Rebel since Hailey Lunderman in 2016 and remains one of the most difficult to strikeout in the nation.
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 .356 with five home runs and 26 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.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
A consistent, national power, the Florida Gators once again have their eyes on a trip to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series, as head coach Tim Walton has the No. 6 Gators off to a 35-8 start, following a win over Stetson on Wednesday.
Despite the lofty rankings, the Gators dropped their most recent SEC series, taking just one of three against then No. 12 Arkansas. Nevertheless, the Gators remain in striking distance of conference leading Texas, standing just three games back with 12 games to play.
The Gators have a number of weapons, with perhaps no one as promising as freshman Taylor Shumaker, who is hitting a sizzling .379 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles and 58 RBI, while also stealing 17 bases. Kendra Falby has been a star for the Gators for years, hitting a team-high .449 with 20 RBI and 32 stolen bases, while Mia Williams (13 HR), Reagan Walsh (12 HR) and Jocelyn Erickson (11 HR) have also dominated for much of this season.
A young rotation has shined for the Gators, with sophomores Ava Brown and Keagan Rothrock, as well as freshman Katelynn Oxley seeing the most action. Rothrock features a team-low ERA of 1.80 ERA (62.1 IP) and a 9-2 record, while Brown (9-1, 2.62 ERA) and Oxley (5-4, 2.23 ERA) are right behind her. Senior Kara Hammock and sophomore Olivia Miller also factor into the bullpen.
The Rebels are looking for their first series win over the Gators since 2019, which also took place in Oxford. All of the series wins for Ole Miss in the all-time ledger have come in Oxford. The series will be their first since 2023, when the Rebels took a game off then No. 14 Florida in Gainesville for the first time in nine years.
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
/ Softball
UT
/ SoftballWhy Not Us? - Lexie Brady and Aliyah Binford (Softball)
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