The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, March 27
Knoxville, Tenn.
5 PM
Ole Miss
at
Tennessee
Softball Travels for Three Games at No. 4 Tennessee
3/26/2026 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Ole Miss softball program returns to SEC action with a key road series, heading to Knoxville, Tenn., for three games at No. 4 Tennessee.
The Rebels (21-14, 0-9 SEC) will open up the weekend on the SEC Network against the Lady Volunteers (29-3, 6-3 SEC) at 5 p.m. CT on Friday. From there, the Rebels and Lady Vols will play on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
The Rebels continue a grueling schedule by opening its fourth consecutive top-five opponent in SEC play in No. 4 Tennessee this weekend. The Rebels own the second-most difficult schedule in nation, behind only Nebraska.
Ole Miss has five non-conference midweeks remaining as SEC play gets into full gear, with each game generating added importance in the face of at least one more series against a top-10 opponent.
The Rebels have already filled the schedule with road opportunities, going 11-5 outside of Oxford in non-conference play. The Rebels have 15 games remaining against the current RPI top-25, headlined by the top RPI team in the nation in Tennessee.
NATIONAL NODS
The Rebels have earned national recognition has the program gets into March, with three Rebels being tabbed to Softball America's March Position Power Rankings. Leading the charge is freshman Madi George, who was named as the No. 11 utility player in the nation according to Softball America. Persy Llamas was tabbed as the No. 12 first baseman, while Mackenzie Pickens was selected as the No. 14 second baseman in the country.
FINDING THE FORMULA
The Rebels have found their success when the two middle of the order hitters, Persy Llamas and Madi George, are able to drive in runs. The Rebels are 12-3 when Llamas tallies an RBI and 9-11 when she does not, while the Rebels are 14-4 when George tallies an RBI and 6-11 when she does not.
Additionally, if only one of the two drive in a run, the Rebels are 19-5 in those games and 2-9 overall when neither tallies an RBI.
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.
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 .384 with five home runs and 28 RBI through 35 games, headlined by a walk-off double in a win over Miami.
Llamas already has eyes on the all-time record books at Ole Miss, standing just three home runs away from entering the top-10 in program history. Additionally, her .991 fielding percentage at first base has already put her among the Rebels all-time best.
A STAR IS BORN
After multiple NFCA All-Region honorees from last season's freshman class, the Rebels have unearthed another freshman star in Madi George.
George has quickly taken over as the cleanup hitter in the early portion of her college career, hitting .389 with nine home runs, 15 total extra-base hits, 28 RBI and 19 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP.
A natural first baseman who has seen most of her time split between right field and designated player thus far, George is following in a similar path as the Rebels current first baseman, sophomore Persy Llamas, who went on to a very successful freshman season. Llamas hit .378 with five home runs and 35 RBI through her first 35 collegiate games last season.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE
The No. 1 team in the nation for much of the season, the Vols have slid to No. 4 following an SEC series loss to Florida. However, the Vols remain one of the nation's best, as head coach Karen Weekly utilizes one of the top rotations in the country for the 29-3 Vols.
The electric Karlyn Pickens remains the top arm in the rotation for the Vols, going 7-2 with a 1.24 ERA (62.0 IP) and 84 strikeouts, while working around a mild in season injury. In her absence, the Vols didn't skip a beat, behind Erin Nuwer's huge season. Nuwer is 12-1 with a 0.80 ERA (60.1 IP), holding opposing batters to a .092 batting average against. Rounding out the rotation is Sage Mardjetko, who has also been brilliant at 7-0 with a 0.88 ERA (56.0 IP).
While pitching is Tennessee's calling card, the offense are no slouches either and feature a number of impact players. Boise State transfers Sophia Knight (.448 BA and seven RBI) and Mackenzie Butt (.344 BA, seven home runs & 26 RBI) have been key additions alongside several returners. Sophomore Ella Dodge leads the team with 37 RBI and 11 doubles, while adding seven home runs, while Gabby Leach has also shined with a .344 batting average, six home runs and 26 RBI.
Both offenses will be key to secure any matchup, as Tennessee has struggled to generate offensive momentum over the last two SEC series, scoring no more than four runs in a game across three games apiece against Mississippi State and Florida.
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 (21-14, 0-9 SEC) will open up the weekend on the SEC Network against the Lady Volunteers (29-3, 6-3 SEC) at 5 p.m. CT on Friday. From there, the Rebels and Lady Vols will play on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss returns to SEC play this weekend, traveling to Knoxville, Tenn., to face No. 4 Tennessee.
- Ole Miss is seeking its first win against Tennessee in Knoxville since 2008.
- Junior Cassie Reasner is red hot, entering after a big series against No. 4 Oklahoma in which she hit .429 (3-for-7) with a home run. Reasner is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, where she's hitting .500 with a home run, two RBI and two doubles.
- Freshman Madi George has been the breakout star of the season thus far, hitting a sizzling .389 with a team-high nine home runs and 19 walks, while adding 28 RBI through the first 35 games of her career.
- Sophomore Persy Llamas remains hot as well, hitting .384 through the first 35 games with five home runs and 28 RBI. Llamas leads the team with 43 hits and seven doubles.
- The Rebels have hit 42 home runs in 2026, averaging 1.20 home runs per game. The Rebels set a program record last season with 67 home runs in 63 games (1.06 per game).
- Defense has become paramount for the Rebels, who are 14-3 when they don't make an error, versus 7-11 when making one or more errors.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
The Rebels continue a grueling schedule by opening its fourth consecutive top-five opponent in SEC play in No. 4 Tennessee this weekend. The Rebels own the second-most difficult schedule in nation, behind only Nebraska.
Ole Miss has five non-conference midweeks remaining as SEC play gets into full gear, with each game generating added importance in the face of at least one more series against a top-10 opponent.
The Rebels have already filled the schedule with road opportunities, going 11-5 outside of Oxford in non-conference play. The Rebels have 15 games remaining against the current RPI top-25, headlined by the top RPI team in the nation in Tennessee.
NATIONAL NODS
The Rebels have earned national recognition has the program gets into March, with three Rebels being tabbed to Softball America's March Position Power Rankings. Leading the charge is freshman Madi George, who was named as the No. 11 utility player in the nation according to Softball America. Persy Llamas was tabbed as the No. 12 first baseman, while Mackenzie Pickens was selected as the No. 14 second baseman in the country.
FINDING THE FORMULA
The Rebels have found their success when the two middle of the order hitters, Persy Llamas and Madi George, are able to drive in runs. The Rebels are 12-3 when Llamas tallies an RBI and 9-11 when she does not, while the Rebels are 14-4 when George tallies an RBI and 6-11 when she does not.
Additionally, if only one of the two drive in a run, the Rebels are 19-5 in those games and 2-9 overall when neither tallies an RBI.
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.
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 .384 with five home runs and 28 RBI through 35 games, headlined by a walk-off double in a win over Miami.
Llamas already has eyes on the all-time record books at Ole Miss, standing just three home runs away from entering the top-10 in program history. Additionally, her .991 fielding percentage at first base has already put her among the Rebels all-time best.
A STAR IS BORN
After multiple NFCA All-Region honorees from last season's freshman class, the Rebels have unearthed another freshman star in Madi George.
George has quickly taken over as the cleanup hitter in the early portion of her college career, hitting .389 with nine home runs, 15 total extra-base hits, 28 RBI and 19 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP.
A natural first baseman who has seen most of her time split between right field and designated player thus far, George is following in a similar path as the Rebels current first baseman, sophomore Persy Llamas, who went on to a very successful freshman season. Llamas hit .378 with five home runs and 35 RBI through her first 35 collegiate games last season.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE
The No. 1 team in the nation for much of the season, the Vols have slid to No. 4 following an SEC series loss to Florida. However, the Vols remain one of the nation's best, as head coach Karen Weekly utilizes one of the top rotations in the country for the 29-3 Vols.
The electric Karlyn Pickens remains the top arm in the rotation for the Vols, going 7-2 with a 1.24 ERA (62.0 IP) and 84 strikeouts, while working around a mild in season injury. In her absence, the Vols didn't skip a beat, behind Erin Nuwer's huge season. Nuwer is 12-1 with a 0.80 ERA (60.1 IP), holding opposing batters to a .092 batting average against. Rounding out the rotation is Sage Mardjetko, who has also been brilliant at 7-0 with a 0.88 ERA (56.0 IP).
While pitching is Tennessee's calling card, the offense are no slouches either and feature a number of impact players. Boise State transfers Sophia Knight (.448 BA and seven RBI) and Mackenzie Butt (.344 BA, seven home runs & 26 RBI) have been key additions alongside several returners. Sophomore Ella Dodge leads the team with 37 RBI and 11 doubles, while adding seven home runs, while Gabby Leach has also shined with a .344 batting average, six home runs and 26 RBI.
Both offenses will be key to secure any matchup, as Tennessee has struggled to generate offensive momentum over the last two SEC series, scoring no more than four runs in a game across three games apiece against Mississippi State and Florida.
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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INF
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LHP/UT
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INF
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INF
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