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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, April 17
Baton Rouge, La.
6 PM
Ole Miss
at
LSU
Softball Heads to No. 15 LSU for Three Game Set
4/16/2026 | Softball
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Ole Miss softball program is set for another ranked clash in SEC play, facing No. 15 LSU for a three-game series in Baton Rouge.
The Rebels (27-18, 2-13 SEC) will open up play against the Tigers (29-14, 6-9 SEC) on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. From there, the two sides will play again on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT and Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. All three games will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
With just one non-conference game 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 nation, trailing only Arkansas, South Carolina, Nebraska and Texas.
Ole Miss has only Southern Miss remaining in the non-conference slate, with the game 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 10 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 .444 with two home runs and 7 RBI over her last 11 games. Cassie Reasner is doing the same, hitting .486 with four home runs and 11 RBI over the last 11 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 six-game on-base streak, hitting .353 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 13-13 when she does not, while the Rebels are 16-6 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 23-9 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 .395 with seven home runs, seven doubles and 34 RBI through 45 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 .380 with 15 home runs, 22 total extra-base hits, 42 RBI and 22 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP.
George brok the all-time freshman single season home run record at Ole Miss on Tuesday against North Alabama, originally held by Lauren Grill in 2007 (14). Next up for George is Lexie Brady's single-season record of 17 done last season. George also entered the single season top-10 in RBI on Tuesday.
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 .371 with six home runs and 43 RBI through her first 45 collegiate games last season.
SCOUTING LSU
The LSU Tigers enter the weekend in good form, on the heels of a non-conference series victory over nationally ranked Arizona and winners of seven of the last 10 games, including a win over the now No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners. Head coach Beth Torina is seeing her side round into form after some early struggles.
The Tigers have been buoyed by strong pitching, headlined by Jayden Heavener, who holds a team-leading 2.38 ERA (111.2 IP) and an 11-6 record. Cece Cellura has been a strong No. 2 behind Heavener, going 6-4 with a 3.25 ERA (69.0 IP). The staff as a units ranks tied for 13th in the SEC in strikeouts, but generates weak contact at a high rate.
Offensively, the Tigers are led by former Rebel Jaila Lassiter, who is set to face the Rebels for the first time. Lassiter is hitting .323 with seven home runs and 26 RBI. Kylee Edwards is one of the hottest hitters in the SEC right now, rising up to a .315 batting average, a team-high eight home runs and 25 RBI. Sierra Daniel is another key batter to watch, leading the Tigers with a team-high .341 batting average and 27 RBI.
Both sides feature intriguing matchups on each side of the ball. The Tigers have hit the least amount of home runs in the SEC, standing at 42 on the season. The Rebel pitching staff ranks fifth in the SEC in home runs allowed. LSU ranks fourth in walks drawn in the SEC, while the Rebels have walked the most batters in the SEC. Additionally, the Tigers ranks in the middle of the pack in home runs allowed, but the Rebels have hit 17 home runs over the last eight games along.
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 (27-18, 2-13 SEC) will open up play against the Tigers (29-14, 6-9 SEC) on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. From there, the two sides will play again on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT and Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. All three games will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss is set to face off against No. 15 LSU for three games in Baton Rouge this weekend as the Rebels enter the final 10 games of the regular season.
- 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 .486 with four home runs and 11 RBI over her last 11 games.
- Freshman Madi George (15) set the single season freshman home run record on Tuesday, passing Lauren Grill (14 - 2007). George is now two away from tying Lexie Brady (17 - 2025) for the all-time single season record.
- Sophomore Persy Llamas continues to rake, hitting .444 with two home runs and seven RBI over her last 11 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 60 home runs in 2026, averaging 1.33 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 17-6 when they don't make an error, versus 10-12 when making one or more errors.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
With just one non-conference game 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 nation, trailing only Arkansas, South Carolina, Nebraska and Texas.
Ole Miss has only Southern Miss remaining in the non-conference slate, with the game 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 10 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 .444 with two home runs and 7 RBI over her last 11 games. Cassie Reasner is doing the same, hitting .486 with four home runs and 11 RBI over the last 11 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 six-game on-base streak, hitting .353 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 13-13 when she does not, while the Rebels are 16-6 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 23-9 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 .395 with seven home runs, seven doubles and 34 RBI through 45 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 .380 with 15 home runs, 22 total extra-base hits, 42 RBI and 22 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP.
George brok the all-time freshman single season home run record at Ole Miss on Tuesday against North Alabama, originally held by Lauren Grill in 2007 (14). Next up for George is Lexie Brady's single-season record of 17 done last season. George also entered the single season top-10 in RBI on Tuesday.
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 .371 with six home runs and 43 RBI through her first 45 collegiate games last season.
SCOUTING LSU
The LSU Tigers enter the weekend in good form, on the heels of a non-conference series victory over nationally ranked Arizona and winners of seven of the last 10 games, including a win over the now No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners. Head coach Beth Torina is seeing her side round into form after some early struggles.
The Tigers have been buoyed by strong pitching, headlined by Jayden Heavener, who holds a team-leading 2.38 ERA (111.2 IP) and an 11-6 record. Cece Cellura has been a strong No. 2 behind Heavener, going 6-4 with a 3.25 ERA (69.0 IP). The staff as a units ranks tied for 13th in the SEC in strikeouts, but generates weak contact at a high rate.
Offensively, the Tigers are led by former Rebel Jaila Lassiter, who is set to face the Rebels for the first time. Lassiter is hitting .323 with seven home runs and 26 RBI. Kylee Edwards is one of the hottest hitters in the SEC right now, rising up to a .315 batting average, a team-high eight home runs and 25 RBI. Sierra Daniel is another key batter to watch, leading the Tigers with a team-high .341 batting average and 27 RBI.
Both sides feature intriguing matchups on each side of the ball. The Tigers have hit the least amount of home runs in the SEC, standing at 42 on the season. The Rebel pitching staff ranks fifth in the SEC in home runs allowed. LSU ranks fourth in walks drawn in the SEC, while the Rebels have walked the most batters in the SEC. Additionally, the Tigers ranks in the middle of the pack in home runs allowed, but the Rebels have hit 17 home runs over the last eight games along.
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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