The University of Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, April 14
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
vs
North Alabama
Softball Set for Rematch Versus North Alabama
4/13/2026 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. โ The Ole Miss softball program is set to complete its five-game homestand, facing off with North Alabama for the second time this season on Tuesday at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
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The Rebels (26-18, 2-13 SEC) are set for a rematch against the Lions (28-11, 10-5 ASUN), following a 4-2 win by the Rebels over North Alabama in eight innings on March 10 in Florence, Ala. The game will get started at 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
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LEADING OFF
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
With just two non-conference games remaining, the Rebels are right in the thick of SEC play and continuing its daunting schedule. The Rebels own the fifth-most difficult schedule in the nation, trailing only Arkansas, South Carolina, Nebraska and Texas.
Ole Miss have North Alabama and Southern Miss remaining in the non-conference slate, with both games generating added importance in the face of at least two more series against top-25 teams in SEC play.
The Rebels have already filled the schedule with road opportunities, going 13-5 outside of Oxford in non-conference play. The Rebels have six games remaining against the current RPI top-25 in LSU and Mississippi State.
RED HOT REBS
The Rebel offense is surging heading into the final 11 games of the regular season. Ole Miss tallied eight home runs in the series against No. 13 Texas A&M, good for its largest home run total in an SEC series in program history.
Additionally, freshman Madi George made history, becoming the first Rebel tally a multi-home run game in an SEC game since Paige Smith in 2021 and the first Rebel freshman to accomplish the same feat since Madi Osias in 2013.
Several Rebels are heating up, including Persy Llamas, who is hitting a scorching .485 with two home runs and 7 RBI over her last 10 games. Cassie Reasner is doing the same, hitting .438 with four home runs and 11 RBI over the last 10 games.
The back end of the lineup are also swinging it, as Taylor Malvin (.444 average, 2 RBI) and Ryan Starr (.429 average) each shined in the Texas A&M series. Laylonna Applin is also on a five-game hitting streak, hitting .400 with a home run over that span.
NO HARD KNOX
The Rebels made history on March 28, securing its first ever series win in Knoxville in taking two of three games from No. 4 Tennessee from Mar. 27 to Mar. 29.
The series was marked by tremendous pitching and defense from the Rebels. Emilee Boyer led the way with a complete game victory in game one, while Kyra Aycock outdueled Lady Vols All-American pitching Karlyn Pickens for another complete game victory in game two. On defense, the Rebels backed up their pitchers, generating four double plays alongside tremendous catches from Laylonna Applin and Emilee Boyer.
On offense, the Rebels were powered by home runs from Kennedy Bunker and Madi George, as well as .333 hitting from Persy Llamas and .286 hitting from Applin.
NATIONAL NODS
The Rebels have earned national recognition as the program gets into April, 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. Additionally, George was named as the No. 19 outfielder in the nation in the April Position Power Rankings.
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 14-5 when Llamas tallies an RBI and 12-13 when she does not, while the Rebels are 15-6 when George tallies an RBI and 10-13 when she does not.
Additionally, if only one of the two drive in a run, the Rebels are 22-9 in those games and 4-9 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 .403 with seven home runs, seven doubles and 34 RBI through 44 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 .992 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 .376 with 13 home runs, 20 total extra-base hits, 37 RBI and 22 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP. George entered the single season top-10 in home runs at Ole Miss on Tuesday, standing in a tie for fourth and is now just one away from tying the all-time freshman record set by Lauren Grill in 2007 (14).
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 .364 with six home runs and 41 RBI through her first 44 collegiate games last season.
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SCOUTING NORTH ALABAMA
It's been business as usual for head coach Ashley Cozart's team as North Alabama has won four of its last five ASUN series following its last meeting with the Rebels back on March 10 in Florence. The Lions are 28-11 overall and 10-5 in ASUN play, in a nearly statistical tie with Central Arkansas and Eastern Kentucky at the top of the Gold Division.
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The offense continues to be powered by three key batters. Former Miami University sophomore Holly Merritt is having a breakout campaign since transferring in, hitting .352 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. Junior Briley Dover leads the team in batting average at .377, while adding nine home runs and 38 RBI, while junior Bayleigh Rouse is also shining, hitting .315 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI.
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Senior Katie Simon continues to lead the rotation, after an excellent performance in the first meeting between the two teams. Simon is 10-4 with a 3.35 ERA (83.2 IP) and has gotten the added benefit of her twin sister Emily Simon recently returning from injury on April 8. Emily featured the better ERA of the two last season and adds another key arm alongside fifth-year Alivia Wilken who is 11-4 with a 3.01 ERA (93.0 IP) this season.
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Following Tuesday's game, the Lions will be done with the non-conference slate, with three more ASUN series to go. North Alabama already defeated each of the three in series to open the year, as they seek to make a historic NCAA Tournament run after completing the transition from Division II to Division I.
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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.
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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 coachย Jamie Trachselย on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
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The Rebels (26-18, 2-13 SEC) are set for a rematch against the Lions (28-11, 10-5 ASUN), following a 4-2 win by the Rebels over North Alabama in eight innings on March 10 in Florence, Ala. The game will get started at 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
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LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss welcomes North Alabama to town for the penultimate non-conference game of the season on Tuesday.
- Junior Cassie Reasner is red hot and on the heels of a historic performance in which she tallied two home runs and an Ole Miss single game record seven RBI in a win at Memphis. Reasner is hitting .438 with four home runs and 11 RBI over her last 10 games.
- Freshman Madi George is closing in on the freshman home run record with 13 on the season. She is one away from tying Lauren Grill (14 - 2007) and four away from tying Lexie Brady (17 - 2025) for the all-time single season record.
- Sophomore Persy Llamas continues to rake, hitting .485 with two home runs and seven RBI over her last 10 games, with home runs in back-to-back games.
- The Rebels tallied eight home runs against No. 13 Texas A&M, good for the most in an SEC series in program history.
- The Rebels have hit 58 home runs in 2026, averaging 1.32 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 16-6 when they don't make an error, versus 10-12 when making one or more errors.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
With just two non-conference games remaining, the Rebels are right in the thick of SEC play and continuing its daunting schedule. The Rebels own the fifth-most difficult schedule in the nation, trailing only Arkansas, South Carolina, Nebraska and Texas.
Ole Miss have North Alabama and Southern Miss remaining in the non-conference slate, with both games generating added importance in the face of at least two more series against top-25 teams in SEC play.
The Rebels have already filled the schedule with road opportunities, going 13-5 outside of Oxford in non-conference play. The Rebels have six games remaining against the current RPI top-25 in LSU and Mississippi State.
RED HOT REBS
The Rebel offense is surging heading into the final 11 games of the regular season. Ole Miss tallied eight home runs in the series against No. 13 Texas A&M, good for its largest home run total in an SEC series in program history.
Additionally, freshman Madi George made history, becoming the first Rebel tally a multi-home run game in an SEC game since Paige Smith in 2021 and the first Rebel freshman to accomplish the same feat since Madi Osias in 2013.
Several Rebels are heating up, including Persy Llamas, who is hitting a scorching .485 with two home runs and 7 RBI over her last 10 games. Cassie Reasner is doing the same, hitting .438 with four home runs and 11 RBI over the last 10 games.
The back end of the lineup are also swinging it, as Taylor Malvin (.444 average, 2 RBI) and Ryan Starr (.429 average) each shined in the Texas A&M series. Laylonna Applin is also on a five-game hitting streak, hitting .400 with a home run over that span.
NO HARD KNOX
The Rebels made history on March 28, securing its first ever series win in Knoxville in taking two of three games from No. 4 Tennessee from Mar. 27 to Mar. 29.
The series was marked by tremendous pitching and defense from the Rebels. Emilee Boyer led the way with a complete game victory in game one, while Kyra Aycock outdueled Lady Vols All-American pitching Karlyn Pickens for another complete game victory in game two. On defense, the Rebels backed up their pitchers, generating four double plays alongside tremendous catches from Laylonna Applin and Emilee Boyer.
On offense, the Rebels were powered by home runs from Kennedy Bunker and Madi George, as well as .333 hitting from Persy Llamas and .286 hitting from Applin.
NATIONAL NODS
The Rebels have earned national recognition as the program gets into April, 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. Additionally, George was named as the No. 19 outfielder in the nation in the April Position Power Rankings.
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 14-5 when Llamas tallies an RBI and 12-13 when she does not, while the Rebels are 15-6 when George tallies an RBI and 10-13 when she does not.
Additionally, if only one of the two drive in a run, the Rebels are 22-9 in those games and 4-9 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 .403 with seven home runs, seven doubles and 34 RBI through 44 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 .992 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 .376 with 13 home runs, 20 total extra-base hits, 37 RBI and 22 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP. George entered the single season top-10 in home runs at Ole Miss on Tuesday, standing in a tie for fourth and is now just one away from tying the all-time freshman record set by Lauren Grill in 2007 (14).
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 .364 with six home runs and 41 RBI through her first 44 collegiate games last season.
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SCOUTING NORTH ALABAMA
It's been business as usual for head coach Ashley Cozart's team as North Alabama has won four of its last five ASUN series following its last meeting with the Rebels back on March 10 in Florence. The Lions are 28-11 overall and 10-5 in ASUN play, in a nearly statistical tie with Central Arkansas and Eastern Kentucky at the top of the Gold Division.
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The offense continues to be powered by three key batters. Former Miami University sophomore Holly Merritt is having a breakout campaign since transferring in, hitting .352 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. Junior Briley Dover leads the team in batting average at .377, while adding nine home runs and 38 RBI, while junior Bayleigh Rouse is also shining, hitting .315 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI.
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Senior Katie Simon continues to lead the rotation, after an excellent performance in the first meeting between the two teams. Simon is 10-4 with a 3.35 ERA (83.2 IP) and has gotten the added benefit of her twin sister Emily Simon recently returning from injury on April 8. Emily featured the better ERA of the two last season and adds another key arm alongside fifth-year Alivia Wilken who is 11-4 with a 3.01 ERA (93.0 IP) this season.
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Following Tuesday's game, the Lions will be done with the non-conference slate, with three more ASUN series to go. North Alabama already defeated each of the three in series to open the year, as they seek to make a historic NCAA Tournament run after completing the transition from Division II to Division I.
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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.
ย
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 coachย Jamie Trachselย on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
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Players Mentioned
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RHP
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RHP/INF
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ Softball
C/UT
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C
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INF
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LHP/UT
/ Softball
OF
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INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
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