The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
31-11, 7-8
Florida
37-9, 9-6
Binford’s Grand Slam, Lansdell’s Catch Power No. 17 Softball Past No. 6 Florida
4/13/2025 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – A grand slam from Aliyah Binford and a game-saving catch by Ashton Lansdell propelled the No. 17 Ole Miss softball program to an 8-6 victory over No. 6 Florida on Sunday afternoon at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
Binford tallied four RBI and two hits to lead the Rebels (31-11, 7-8 SEC), while Lansdell added a solo home run. Brianna Lopez delivered a complete game, striking out three Gators (37-9, 9-6 SEC) to secure her eighth win of the season.
In a series that’s featured high-octane offense, Lopez helped turned the tide for the Rebels in the circle, looking strong from the opening batter. Lopez stranded two runners in the first inning, before a quick, one-two-three inning in the second inning.
The terrific command continued for Lopez, who walked just one batter all day and stranded another Gator at second in the third inning, before another quick frame in the fourth.
The fourth inning saw a two-out, offensive spark for the Rebels. Mackenzie Pickens walked, Ryan Starr drew a hit-by-pitch and Taylor Malvin walked to load the bases. After a 4-for-4 day on Saturday, Jaden Pone stayed hot and gave the Rebels a lead, delivering an infield single to take a 1-0 lead.
With the bases still loaded, Binford stepped up to the plate and jumped on an 0-2 mistake to crush a grand slam to deep left field, extending the lead to 5-0.
Lopez’s great work continued, cruising through a fifth-consecutive scoreless inning. That proved to be critical, as the Rebels added a big insurance run in the bottom half of the frame, when Ashton Lansdell delivered a pinch-hit, solo home run to extend the lead to 6-0.
Needing just six outs, Lopez got the opening out of the sixth inning, but could not hold the Gators off the scoreboard, as Mia Williams would ultimately hit a three-run home run to cut the Rebel advantage in half. That did not deter the senior, who picked up the next two outs in quick succession.
The Rebel offense immediately picked up their pitcher, as Malvin and Pone singled. From there, Pone stole second, but a fielding error allowed Malvin to come home and take a 7-3 lead. Persy Llamas helped extend the lead even further, delivering a critical RBI single to make it 8-3. The Rebels were able to draw multiple walks to reload the bases, but could not add more runs.
With just three outs needed, Lopez struck out the opening batter, but a hit-by-pitch and error gave Florida life. Florida’s Jocelyn Erickson made things nervy, launching a three-run home run to make it 8-6.
After a single on the next batter, Lopez earned a key strikeout to put her on the brink. Lopez nearly got strike three on the next batter, the Gators drew a full count walk to put the pressure on. On the next at bat, Florida’s Reagan Walsh swung at the first pitch she saw, sending a floater out into shallow center field. Lansdell, who stayed in to play defense following her home run, raced in and made a diving effort, robbing Walsh of a hit and ending the game in favor of Ole Miss.
Ole Miss heads back out on the road for a three-game series at No. 18 Georgia, with action beginning on Thursday at 5 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
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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: Lopez, Brianna (8-2)
L: Keagan Rothrock (10-3)
Batting:
2B: Kendra Falby 1 ; Jocelyn Erickson 1 ; Taylor Shumaker 1
HR: Jocelyn Erickson 1 ; Mia Williams 1
RBI: Jocelyn Erickson 3 ; Mia Williams 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Kendra Falby 1 ; Jocelyn Erickson 1 ; Taylor Shumaker 1 ; Korbe Otis 1 ; Mia Williams 1 ; Rylee Holtorf 1
HBP: Rylee Holtorf 1
Batting:
HR: Binford, Aliyah 1 ; Lansdell, Ashton 1
RBI: Pone, Jaden 1 ; Binford, Aliyah 4 ; Llamas, Persy 1 ; Lansdell, Ashton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Malvin, Taylor 2 ; Pone, Jaden 2 ; Binford, Aliyah 1 ; Pickens, Mackenzie 1 ; Lansdell, Ashton 1 ; Starr, Ryan 1
SB: Pone, Jaden 1 ; Pickens, Mackenzie 1 ; DeLeon, Angelina 1
HBP: Binford, Aliyah 1 ; Llamas, Persy 1 ; Starr, Ryan 1
