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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, April 21
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Southern Miss
Softball Hosts Southern Miss in Non-Conference Finale
4/20/2026 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss softball program wraps up the non-conference slate at home, hosting Southern Miss for a Tuesday night clash at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
The Rebels (27-21, 2-16 SEC) will face off against the Golden Eagles (30-19, 11-7 Sun Belt) at 6 p.m. CT. The game 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 second-most difficult schedule in nation, trailing only Arkansas.
Ole Miss has only Southern Miss remaining in the non-conference slate, with the game generating added importance in the face of at least one more series against a top-25 team 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-30 in Auburn and Mississippi State.
RED HOT REBS
The Rebel offense is surging heading into the final seven 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 and added seven at No. 15 LSU.
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. George did it a second time in the series at LSU.
Several Rebels are heating up, including Cassie Reasner, who is hitting .486 with five home runs and 11 RBI over the last 10 games. Kennedy Bunker is also swinging a hot bat, hitting .400 at LSU and hitting .324 with two home runs and eight RBI over her last 10 games. Laylonna Applin is also on a nine-game on-base streak, hitting .308 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 14-6 when Llamas tallies an RBI and 13-15 when she does not, while the Rebels are 16-8 when George tallies an RBI and 10-14 when she does not.
Additionally, if only one of the two drive in a run, the Rebels are 23-11 in those games and 4-10 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 .373 with eight home runs, seven doubles and 36 RBI through 48 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 .381 with 18 home runs, 25 total extra-base hits, 46 RBI and 24 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP.
George broke the all-time single season program home run record at Ole Miss on Sunday at No. 15 LSU, originally held by Lexie Brady in 2025 (17). George also has her eyes set on other single season records at Ole Miss, standing tied for second with Brady at 115 total bases, which is just seven away from matching Aliyah Binford (122) in 2025. Her 46 RBI are also just nine away from matching Binford and Persy Llamas (55) in 2025.
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 .376 with six home runs and 43 RBI through her first 48 collegiate games last season.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN MISS
At 30-19 and 11-7 in Sun Belt play, head coach Natalie Poole has put together an impressive side in her fourth season at the helm, keeping the Golden Eagles in contention in a deep conference this season. Southern Miss sits in a tie for third in the Sun Belt, trailing nationally ranked leader Marshall by four games with six remaining. Southern Miss will have fellow 11-7 side South Alabama and second place ULM to end the regular season.
Poole and the Golden Eagles have put together a gritty team that relies heavily on speed and contact. Sophomore Hannah Christian has been a key part of that effort, hitting .394 with five home runs, 10 doubles, 14 stolen bases and 40 RBI. Fellow sophomore Carrie Green is also shining, with 14 stolen bases of her own alongside a .333 batting average and 20 RBI.
While not a powerful team at just 15 home runs on the season, the Golden Eagles have also shown tremendous discipline at the plate, drawing 176 walks. Those efforts have allowed Southern Miss to earn impressive series wins in Sun Belt play, while giving scares to nationally ranked Mississippi State and Southeastern Louisiana.
Sophomore Kayla Giardina is the workhorse of the rotation, going 15-7 with a 2.55 ERA over 134.2 innings of work. Freshman Madilyn Graham is a strong No. 2 for the Golden Eagles, going 10-6 with a 3.17 ERA over 84.0 innings. Where Southern Miss does struggle is finding help for the duo, as the team has used seven other pitchers alongside them, but none with more than 31.0 innings pitched.
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 (27-21, 2-16 SEC) will face off against the Golden Eagles (30-19, 11-7 Sun Belt) at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss wraps up the non-conference slate on Tuesday evening, hosting Southern Miss.
- 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 five home runs and 11 RBI over her last 10 games.
- Freshman Madi George (18) set the single season Ole Miss home run record on Sunday, passing Lexie Brady (17 - 2025). George now has eight home runs in her last eight games and is seeking school records in total bases and RBI among others.
- The Rebels have hit 67 home runs in 2026, averaging 1.40 home runs per game. 67 ties the program record set last year, but in 15 less games, after setting the mark in 63 games in 2025 (1.06 per game).
- As a unit, the Rebels have hit at least one home run in 11 consecutive games dating back to March 29 at Tennessee. The Rebels most recently tallied four home runs in game three at LSU, marking its second-largest output in a game this season.
- Defense has become paramount for the Rebels, who are 17-7 when they don't make an error, versus 10-14 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 second-most difficult schedule in nation, trailing only Arkansas.
Ole Miss has only Southern Miss remaining in the non-conference slate, with the game generating added importance in the face of at least one more series against a top-25 team 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-30 in Auburn and Mississippi State.
RED HOT REBS
The Rebel offense is surging heading into the final seven 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 and added seven at No. 15 LSU.
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. George did it a second time in the series at LSU.
Several Rebels are heating up, including Cassie Reasner, who is hitting .486 with five home runs and 11 RBI over the last 10 games. Kennedy Bunker is also swinging a hot bat, hitting .400 at LSU and hitting .324 with two home runs and eight RBI over her last 10 games. Laylonna Applin is also on a nine-game on-base streak, hitting .308 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 14-6 when Llamas tallies an RBI and 13-15 when she does not, while the Rebels are 16-8 when George tallies an RBI and 10-14 when she does not.
Additionally, if only one of the two drive in a run, the Rebels are 23-11 in those games and 4-10 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 .373 with eight home runs, seven doubles and 36 RBI through 48 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 .381 with 18 home runs, 25 total extra-base hits, 46 RBI and 24 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP.
George broke the all-time single season program home run record at Ole Miss on Sunday at No. 15 LSU, originally held by Lexie Brady in 2025 (17). George also has her eyes set on other single season records at Ole Miss, standing tied for second with Brady at 115 total bases, which is just seven away from matching Aliyah Binford (122) in 2025. Her 46 RBI are also just nine away from matching Binford and Persy Llamas (55) in 2025.
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 .376 with six home runs and 43 RBI through her first 48 collegiate games last season.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN MISS
At 30-19 and 11-7 in Sun Belt play, head coach Natalie Poole has put together an impressive side in her fourth season at the helm, keeping the Golden Eagles in contention in a deep conference this season. Southern Miss sits in a tie for third in the Sun Belt, trailing nationally ranked leader Marshall by four games with six remaining. Southern Miss will have fellow 11-7 side South Alabama and second place ULM to end the regular season.
Poole and the Golden Eagles have put together a gritty team that relies heavily on speed and contact. Sophomore Hannah Christian has been a key part of that effort, hitting .394 with five home runs, 10 doubles, 14 stolen bases and 40 RBI. Fellow sophomore Carrie Green is also shining, with 14 stolen bases of her own alongside a .333 batting average and 20 RBI.
While not a powerful team at just 15 home runs on the season, the Golden Eagles have also shown tremendous discipline at the plate, drawing 176 walks. Those efforts have allowed Southern Miss to earn impressive series wins in Sun Belt play, while giving scares to nationally ranked Mississippi State and Southeastern Louisiana.
Sophomore Kayla Giardina is the workhorse of the rotation, going 15-7 with a 2.55 ERA over 134.2 innings of work. Freshman Madilyn Graham is a strong No. 2 for the Golden Eagles, going 10-6 with a 3.17 ERA over 84.0 innings. Where Southern Miss does struggle is finding help for the duo, as the team has used seven other pitchers alongside them, but none with more than 31.0 innings pitched.
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/UT
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LHP/UT
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INF
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