The University of Mississippi Athletics
Monday, February 16
Oxford, Miss.
1 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Miami
No. 21 Softball Opens Home Slate Against Miami
2/15/2026 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 21 Ole Miss softball program is set for the 2026 home opener, hosting Miami on Monday at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
The Rebels (6-4, 0-0) are set to match up with the RedHawks (5-2, 0-0 MAC) for the third consecutive season and will open up play at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
Monday's game features free admission to the public, in celebration of the program's first ever Women's College World Series berth last season.
LEADING OFF
After a historic 2025 campaign in which the Rebels reached the program's first ever Women's College World Series, head coach Jamie Trachsel and the Rebels turn the page to a brand-new campaign in 2026.
The season will honor the achievements of last season, while turning the page with a group of 16 newcomers to lead a remade roster. Coach Trachsel and the Rebels have commanded the respect of their peers after last season, earning a consensus top-25 ranking across all four major preseason polls heading into the new campaign.
ACT TWO
Persy Llamas took the SEC by storm as a freshman and returns to anchor an offense with plenty of potent bats in 2026. Llamas not only hit .354 with 10 home runs, 10 doubles and 55 RBI last season, while striking out only 11 times, but also matched teammate Aliyah Binford in setting a new single-season RBI record at Ole Miss. Llamas also shined defensively, tallying a .990 fielding percentage at first base which has already put her among the Rebels all-time best.
Her efforts across the postseason were heroic. Llamas went from hitting a three-run blast against No. 4 Florida in the SEC Tournament win, to tallying three home runs in three games against No. 12 Arizona to secure the NCAA Regional, to driving in the first two runs ever scored by the Rebels in a Women's College World Series against No. 16 Oregon. Llamas took home All-SEC Second Team and NFCA All-South Region Second Team honors following the season.
As a result of her achievements, the nation has paid attention in 2026. Llamas was recently tabbed to the All-SEC Preseason Team, as well as earning a top-100 player and top-10 player at first base nod from Softball America this offseason. This season, Llamas has kept pace, hitting a sizzling .500 with three home runs and 14 RBI through 10 games.
WHITTEN IN STONE
Pitcher Lilly Whitten made history on Friday, Feb. 13, becoming just the sixth Rebel to ever throw a solo no-hitter, joining Becky Barnhill, Aliyah Binford, Miali Guachino, Carly Hummel (twice) and Becky Nye. Additionally, she became part of just the ninth no-hitter of any kind in program history.
Whitten was thoroughly dominant in the 8-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, striking out three batters and commanding the circle. It has been a sterling start to Whitten's Ole Miss career, going 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA so far.
TWO-WAY TITANS
The Ole Miss softball program has created a tradition of developing dynamic two-way talents under head coach Jamie Trachsel, with 2026 set to continue the trend.
Previous Rebels Aynslie Furbush and Aliyah Binford earned All-Region honors both hitting and pitching in Oxford and this season's roster will be loaded with more two-way talent. The group is led by Division II National Player of the Year Emilee Boyer, who heads to Oxford after three seasons at West Texas A&M where she went 69-10 with a 2.39 ERA and hit .363 with 54 home runs and 197 RBI. Another transfer, Hope Jenkins, also brings veteran accumen after three seasons at UConn, where she earned All-Big East honors and went 28-9 in the circle, with a 3.50 ERA and hit .279, with 14 home runs and 67 RBI. Both will continue to hit and pitch in their first seasons in Oxford.
There is even more talent in the pipeline, as the Rebels added freshmen Payton Kennedy and Addi Linton to the mix this season, who will continue their two-way careers after prolific high school performances. Both were tabbed to the Softball America Freshman Watch List this season.
RETURN OF THE MACK
Another breakout star for the Rebels in 2025 was the dynamic Mackenzie Pickens, who stepped right into a key middle infield role and shined en route to NFCA All-South Region Third Team honors. This season, Pickens will take on an even bigger role on both sides of the ball.
Pickens delivered a sensational debut season in Oxford, hitting .328 with eight home runs, 10 doubles, 37 RBI and 12 stolen bases. That play has carried over into 2026 thus far, as Pickens opened the season hitting .400 with two home runs and seven RBI.
Pickens delivered signature moments in both the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament. Her 8th inning, three-run blast helped the Rebels break the deadlock and win a thriller over No. 4 Florida in the SEC Tournament, while her 2-for-3 performance with a first inning home run helped the Rebels clinch the Tucson Regional against No. 12 Arizona in a decisive game three.
TRANSFER TO THE SIP
Ole Miss softball found tremendous success from the transfer portal in 2025 and have reloaded once again in 2026. Joining the team are 10 transfers, headlined by several who will be key contributors. Reigning Division II National Player of the Year Emilee Boyer brings her two-way talents from West Texas A&M, while former Kentucky infielder Cassie Reasner traded shades of blue to join Ole Miss for the next two seasons. Also joining the team are utility player Laylonna Applin (Angelo State), pitcher Kyra Aycock (Oklahoma State), catcher Makenna Bellaire (Florida), catcher Kennedy Bunker (Fresno State), two-way player Hope Jenkins (UConn), outfielder Liesl Osteen (UCLA), outfielder Cassidy Patterson (Nova Southeastern) and outfielder Sydney Shiller (Texas Tech). Additionally, promising pitcher Lilly Whitten (Missouri), will also see action for the first time as a Rebel after joining as a winter transfer ahead of the 2025 season.
SCOUTING MIAMI
The defending MAC champions once again have eyes on a big season in 2026, led by head coach Mandy Gardner-Colegate in her second season at the helm.
The RedHawks have gotten off to a quick start to open the season, earning two wins over Minnesota and a win over San Diego State, while taking Kentucky to the brink in an 8-7 loss. While not an overly powerful offense, the RedHawks have plenty of elite contact players, led by Northern Iowa transfer Katy Olive, who is hitting .476 with seven RBI and five stolen bases.
Ella Carter is the program's top offensive returner and main power threat, hitting .364 with four extra-base hits and four RBI so far. IPFW transfer Bailey Manos (.375 with one home run and seven RBI) and Danitza Hernandez (two home runs and eight RBI) also contribute.
Where the RedHawks shine the most is in the circle, led by Minnesota transfer Presley Hosick. Hosick is 2-1 with a 1.68 ERA to lead the rotation. Furman transfer Angelina Ricciardi is right behind Hosick at 3-1 with a 3.57 ERA.
The RedHawks enter Monday's game after a 1-1 overall performance at the 901 Classic in Memphis, defeating the host Tigers before the remainder of the games were canceled.
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 (6-4, 0-0) are set to match up with the RedHawks (5-2, 0-0 MAC) for the third consecutive season and will open up play at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
Monday's game features free admission to the public, in celebration of the program's first ever Women's College World Series berth last season.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss returns home after 10 games on the road for the home opener against Miami University.
- The Rebels are set for the program's earliest home opener since 2013, when the Rebels played LSU on Feb. 13.
- Freshman Madi George has been the breakout star of the season thus far, hitting a sizzling .433 with a team-high four home runs and 14 RBI through the first 10 games of her career.
- Sophomore Persy Llamas remains scorching hot as well, hitting .500 through the first 10 games with three home runs and 14 RBI, while not striking out once.
- Lilly Whitten etched her name in the record books on Friday, throwing a six-inning no-hitter in a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. She became the sixth Rebel in program history to throw a solo no-hitter and contributed the ninth no-hitter in program history.
- Head coach Jamie Trachsel became the program's all-time winningest coach on Feb. 13, recording her 188th win at the helm.
- The Ole Miss offense is averaging 7.7 runs per game through 10 games, scoring the most total runs through the first 10 games since 2017.
After a historic 2025 campaign in which the Rebels reached the program's first ever Women's College World Series, head coach Jamie Trachsel and the Rebels turn the page to a brand-new campaign in 2026.
The season will honor the achievements of last season, while turning the page with a group of 16 newcomers to lead a remade roster. Coach Trachsel and the Rebels have commanded the respect of their peers after last season, earning a consensus top-25 ranking across all four major preseason polls heading into the new campaign.
ACT TWO
Persy Llamas took the SEC by storm as a freshman and returns to anchor an offense with plenty of potent bats in 2026. Llamas not only hit .354 with 10 home runs, 10 doubles and 55 RBI last season, while striking out only 11 times, but also matched teammate Aliyah Binford in setting a new single-season RBI record at Ole Miss. Llamas also shined defensively, tallying a .990 fielding percentage at first base which has already put her among the Rebels all-time best.
Her efforts across the postseason were heroic. Llamas went from hitting a three-run blast against No. 4 Florida in the SEC Tournament win, to tallying three home runs in three games against No. 12 Arizona to secure the NCAA Regional, to driving in the first two runs ever scored by the Rebels in a Women's College World Series against No. 16 Oregon. Llamas took home All-SEC Second Team and NFCA All-South Region Second Team honors following the season.
As a result of her achievements, the nation has paid attention in 2026. Llamas was recently tabbed to the All-SEC Preseason Team, as well as earning a top-100 player and top-10 player at first base nod from Softball America this offseason. This season, Llamas has kept pace, hitting a sizzling .500 with three home runs and 14 RBI through 10 games.
WHITTEN IN STONE
Pitcher Lilly Whitten made history on Friday, Feb. 13, becoming just the sixth Rebel to ever throw a solo no-hitter, joining Becky Barnhill, Aliyah Binford, Miali Guachino, Carly Hummel (twice) and Becky Nye. Additionally, she became part of just the ninth no-hitter of any kind in program history.
Whitten was thoroughly dominant in the 8-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, striking out three batters and commanding the circle. It has been a sterling start to Whitten's Ole Miss career, going 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA so far.
TWO-WAY TITANS
The Ole Miss softball program has created a tradition of developing dynamic two-way talents under head coach Jamie Trachsel, with 2026 set to continue the trend.
Previous Rebels Aynslie Furbush and Aliyah Binford earned All-Region honors both hitting and pitching in Oxford and this season's roster will be loaded with more two-way talent. The group is led by Division II National Player of the Year Emilee Boyer, who heads to Oxford after three seasons at West Texas A&M where she went 69-10 with a 2.39 ERA and hit .363 with 54 home runs and 197 RBI. Another transfer, Hope Jenkins, also brings veteran accumen after three seasons at UConn, where she earned All-Big East honors and went 28-9 in the circle, with a 3.50 ERA and hit .279, with 14 home runs and 67 RBI. Both will continue to hit and pitch in their first seasons in Oxford.
There is even more talent in the pipeline, as the Rebels added freshmen Payton Kennedy and Addi Linton to the mix this season, who will continue their two-way careers after prolific high school performances. Both were tabbed to the Softball America Freshman Watch List this season.
RETURN OF THE MACK
Another breakout star for the Rebels in 2025 was the dynamic Mackenzie Pickens, who stepped right into a key middle infield role and shined en route to NFCA All-South Region Third Team honors. This season, Pickens will take on an even bigger role on both sides of the ball.
Pickens delivered a sensational debut season in Oxford, hitting .328 with eight home runs, 10 doubles, 37 RBI and 12 stolen bases. That play has carried over into 2026 thus far, as Pickens opened the season hitting .400 with two home runs and seven RBI.
Pickens delivered signature moments in both the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament. Her 8th inning, three-run blast helped the Rebels break the deadlock and win a thriller over No. 4 Florida in the SEC Tournament, while her 2-for-3 performance with a first inning home run helped the Rebels clinch the Tucson Regional against No. 12 Arizona in a decisive game three.
TRANSFER TO THE SIP
Ole Miss softball found tremendous success from the transfer portal in 2025 and have reloaded once again in 2026. Joining the team are 10 transfers, headlined by several who will be key contributors. Reigning Division II National Player of the Year Emilee Boyer brings her two-way talents from West Texas A&M, while former Kentucky infielder Cassie Reasner traded shades of blue to join Ole Miss for the next two seasons. Also joining the team are utility player Laylonna Applin (Angelo State), pitcher Kyra Aycock (Oklahoma State), catcher Makenna Bellaire (Florida), catcher Kennedy Bunker (Fresno State), two-way player Hope Jenkins (UConn), outfielder Liesl Osteen (UCLA), outfielder Cassidy Patterson (Nova Southeastern) and outfielder Sydney Shiller (Texas Tech). Additionally, promising pitcher Lilly Whitten (Missouri), will also see action for the first time as a Rebel after joining as a winter transfer ahead of the 2025 season.
SCOUTING MIAMI
The defending MAC champions once again have eyes on a big season in 2026, led by head coach Mandy Gardner-Colegate in her second season at the helm.
The RedHawks have gotten off to a quick start to open the season, earning two wins over Minnesota and a win over San Diego State, while taking Kentucky to the brink in an 8-7 loss. While not an overly powerful offense, the RedHawks have plenty of elite contact players, led by Northern Iowa transfer Katy Olive, who is hitting .476 with seven RBI and five stolen bases.
Ella Carter is the program's top offensive returner and main power threat, hitting .364 with four extra-base hits and four RBI so far. IPFW transfer Bailey Manos (.375 with one home run and seven RBI) and Danitza Hernandez (two home runs and eight RBI) also contribute.
Where the RedHawks shine the most is in the circle, led by Minnesota transfer Presley Hosick. Hosick is 2-1 with a 1.68 ERA to lead the rotation. Furman transfer Angelina Ricciardi is right behind Hosick at 3-1 with a 3.57 ERA.
The RedHawks enter Monday's game after a 1-1 overall performance at the 901 Classic in Memphis, defeating the host Tigers before the remainder of the games were canceled.
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
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RHP
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C/UT
/ Softball
RHP/INF
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ Softball
LHP/UT
/ Softball
LHP/UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
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