The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, March 7
Oxford, Miss.
6 PM
Ole Miss
vs
Arkansas
No. 25 Softball Welcomes No. 10 Arkansas for SEC Opener
3/6/2025 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 25 Ole Miss softball program is set to open up SEC play, welcoming in No. 10 Arkansas for a three-game series from Friday through Sunday at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
The Rebels (18-3, 0-0 SEC) will open against the Razorbacks (19-1, 0-0 SEC) on Friday a 6 p.m. CT, before facing off again on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT. The finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. All three games will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
ALL EYES ON ALIYAH
Two-way star Aliyah Binford joined the Rebels for her final season of eligibility after a standout career in the circle and at the plate at Baylor and has generated talk since arriving in Oxford. Binford has gotten off to a .364 start, hitting six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 20 RBI and slugging .636, while also holding a 1.22 ERA through seven appearances in the circle.
Her efforts in the circle have made caught national attention and placed her in the Ole Miss record books after being named the SEC Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 3. Binford delivered back-to-back complete games last week, beginning with a one-hitter against Nicholls and ending the week with the program's first solo no-hitter since 2014 in a win over Murray State.
A STAR IS BORN
Freshman Miali Guachino has burst onto the scene as one of the top freshman pitchers in the nation and an early candidate for national freshmn of the year. The Pala, Calif., native has wasted little time in becoming a star, as she broke the Rebels single-game strikeout record with 19 at Southern Miss, shattering the old record of 15. Guachino enters the weekend at 8-3 with a 1.21 ERA (63.2 IP) and has struck out 99 batters, which leads both the SEC and the nation. Guachino has tallied six complete games, three solo shutouts and has four performances with 10 or more strikeouts.
MACK ATTACK
Freshman infielder Mackenzie Pickens recorded a breakout performance en route to SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 24. Pickens hit .600 over four games at the Rocket City Softball Showcase, tallying a home run, a double, six RBI and two stolen bases.
The Flowery Branch, Ga., native has adjusted to the college game quickly, hitting .345 with three home runs and 18 RBI, while becoming the first SEC Freshman of the Week from Ole Miss since Blaise Biringer in 2021.
MEETING OF THE MINDS
Joining head coach Jamie Trachsel in 2025 are a highly accomplished trio of new coaches, who bring decades of championship experience to Oxford.
A longtime head coach at Missouri, Ehren Earleywine returns to the college game after reaching three Women's College World Series while in Columbia. Earleywine recorded nearly 600 wins over 14 seasons and helped develop countless All-American, All-Region and All-Conference student athletes.
One of the most successful and highly decorated pitchers in NCAA history, Nancy Evans joins as the team's pitching coach. Evans won three national championships in her playing career at the University of Arizona (1994-98) and still holds the NCAA record with a .939 career winning percentage (124-8 overall record). Last season, Evans served on staff at UIC as the Flames' pitching coach, where she helped UIC post a 3.43 team ERA, its best mark since 2018.
A brilliant recruiter and offensive mind, Bobby Buchanan joins the Rebels after a stint at Texas A&M, where he was the director of player development for their NCAA Super Regional squad.
NEW BLOOD
The Rebels feature a number of new faces in 2025, as the team welcomes 16 newcomers, compared to 10 returners to the roster. Eight of the 16 are true freshmen, while the remaining half are transfers. Despite this, the Rebels still have an experienced lineup, with 11 seniors and several transfers with plenty of NCAA Tournament experience.
FAB FRESHMEN
Eight of the 16 newcomers to Oxford are true freshmen, as the Rebels injected some youth into the program. Several of those freshman have already caught national attention, as four were named to Softball America's Freshman Watch List - pitchers Miali Guachino and Abby Herndon, two-way player Persy Llamas and infielder Mackenzie Pickens were all named to the list. Herndon was also named to D1Softball's Top-100 Freshman List.
The quartet is also joined by catcher Rachel Connors, infielder Tate Davis, outfielder Addison Duke and pitcher Graycen Jordan. As a unit the Rebel freshmen provide strong depth to the roster after standout high school careers.
It proved to be a dream start for the freshmen class, as Miali Guachino leads the nation in strikeouts (99), while Persy Llamas leads the team with 23 RBI. Tate Davis (first hit), Addison Duke (first hit and RBI) and Mackenzie Pickens (SEC Freshman of the Week) also got involved.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS
The Razorbacks are off to another big start in 2025, entering the weekend at 19-1 and as the consensus No. 10 team in the nation, as they seek to improve on last season's 37-18 and NCAA Regional finish.
Head coach Courtney Deifel has the Razorbacks rolling in her 10th season in Fayetteville and is pursuing a fourth, 40-win season in the last five years. However, the Razorbacks will enter Oxford in search of their first top-25 win of the season. In their one matchup against a top-25 opponent, Arkansas fell, 9-1, in six innings against No. 4 UCLA.
Bri Ellis is off to an enormous start at the plate to lead her side, hitting .555 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI in just 20 games. Ellis is not alone, as the Razorbacks feature countless offensive threats in their lineup that is hitting a collective .371. Courtney Day is another key component of the roster, hitting .426 with eight home runs and 33 RBI. Reagan Johnson is the key player on the bases, with 13 stolen bases and a .379 batting average in 2025.
In the circle, Robyn Herron has been the star of the first half of the season, going 6-0 with a 0.42 ERA. Cam Harrison (3-0, 1.48 ERA) and Payton Burnham (5-1, 1.67 ERA) are also key pieces for the Razorbacks.
The two sides have several common opponents, with the Razorbacks earning run rule wins over Louisiana Tech (9-1), Southern Miss (12-4 & 12-3) and Missouri State (13-2).
The two sides played a highly competitive series in 2024, with the Rebels emerging with a pair of top-10 victories. However, the Razorbacks won the last series in Oxford in 2022 and hold a nine-game edge in the all-time ledger. The all-time series has been close in recent years, with Arkansas taking three of the last eight three-game series and Ole Miss taking five.
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 (18-3, 0-0 SEC) will open against the Razorbacks (19-1, 0-0 SEC) on Friday a 6 p.m. CT, before facing off again on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT. The finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. All three games will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss is set for their first SEC series of the season and the first in the brand new Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
- Aliyah Binford enters the week as the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week, following back-to-back complete games, in which she threw a one-hitter vs. Nicholls and a no-hitter vs. Murray State.
- The Rebel freshmen have been dynamic with Miali Guachino leading the nation in strikeouts (99), and Persy Llamas leads the team in RBI (23). Mackenzie Pickens also earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors last week.
- At 99 strikeouts, Guachino is just four away from the team-high by any Rebel last season. Should she get five, it would be the most strikeouts in a single season by a Rebel since Savannah Diederich (131) in 2021.
- Ole Miss enters the weekend on a 13-game win streak, good for longest since the program record of 16 back in 2017. During the streak, the Rebels have earned eight shutouts.
- The Rebels have won five of the last eight three-game series against the Razorbacks in the highly competitive all-time series.
- This weekend's series is also alumni weekend, as the Rebels welcome several former players to the new Ole Miss Softball Stadium.
ALL EYES ON ALIYAH
Two-way star Aliyah Binford joined the Rebels for her final season of eligibility after a standout career in the circle and at the plate at Baylor and has generated talk since arriving in Oxford. Binford has gotten off to a .364 start, hitting six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 20 RBI and slugging .636, while also holding a 1.22 ERA through seven appearances in the circle.
Her efforts in the circle have made caught national attention and placed her in the Ole Miss record books after being named the SEC Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 3. Binford delivered back-to-back complete games last week, beginning with a one-hitter against Nicholls and ending the week with the program's first solo no-hitter since 2014 in a win over Murray State.
A STAR IS BORN
Freshman Miali Guachino has burst onto the scene as one of the top freshman pitchers in the nation and an early candidate for national freshmn of the year. The Pala, Calif., native has wasted little time in becoming a star, as she broke the Rebels single-game strikeout record with 19 at Southern Miss, shattering the old record of 15. Guachino enters the weekend at 8-3 with a 1.21 ERA (63.2 IP) and has struck out 99 batters, which leads both the SEC and the nation. Guachino has tallied six complete games, three solo shutouts and has four performances with 10 or more strikeouts.
MACK ATTACK
Freshman infielder Mackenzie Pickens recorded a breakout performance en route to SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 24. Pickens hit .600 over four games at the Rocket City Softball Showcase, tallying a home run, a double, six RBI and two stolen bases.
The Flowery Branch, Ga., native has adjusted to the college game quickly, hitting .345 with three home runs and 18 RBI, while becoming the first SEC Freshman of the Week from Ole Miss since Blaise Biringer in 2021.
MEETING OF THE MINDS
Joining head coach Jamie Trachsel in 2025 are a highly accomplished trio of new coaches, who bring decades of championship experience to Oxford.
A longtime head coach at Missouri, Ehren Earleywine returns to the college game after reaching three Women's College World Series while in Columbia. Earleywine recorded nearly 600 wins over 14 seasons and helped develop countless All-American, All-Region and All-Conference student athletes.
One of the most successful and highly decorated pitchers in NCAA history, Nancy Evans joins as the team's pitching coach. Evans won three national championships in her playing career at the University of Arizona (1994-98) and still holds the NCAA record with a .939 career winning percentage (124-8 overall record). Last season, Evans served on staff at UIC as the Flames' pitching coach, where she helped UIC post a 3.43 team ERA, its best mark since 2018.
A brilliant recruiter and offensive mind, Bobby Buchanan joins the Rebels after a stint at Texas A&M, where he was the director of player development for their NCAA Super Regional squad.
NEW BLOOD
The Rebels feature a number of new faces in 2025, as the team welcomes 16 newcomers, compared to 10 returners to the roster. Eight of the 16 are true freshmen, while the remaining half are transfers. Despite this, the Rebels still have an experienced lineup, with 11 seniors and several transfers with plenty of NCAA Tournament experience.
FAB FRESHMEN
Eight of the 16 newcomers to Oxford are true freshmen, as the Rebels injected some youth into the program. Several of those freshman have already caught national attention, as four were named to Softball America's Freshman Watch List - pitchers Miali Guachino and Abby Herndon, two-way player Persy Llamas and infielder Mackenzie Pickens were all named to the list. Herndon was also named to D1Softball's Top-100 Freshman List.
The quartet is also joined by catcher Rachel Connors, infielder Tate Davis, outfielder Addison Duke and pitcher Graycen Jordan. As a unit the Rebel freshmen provide strong depth to the roster after standout high school careers.
It proved to be a dream start for the freshmen class, as Miali Guachino leads the nation in strikeouts (99), while Persy Llamas leads the team with 23 RBI. Tate Davis (first hit), Addison Duke (first hit and RBI) and Mackenzie Pickens (SEC Freshman of the Week) also got involved.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS
The Razorbacks are off to another big start in 2025, entering the weekend at 19-1 and as the consensus No. 10 team in the nation, as they seek to improve on last season's 37-18 and NCAA Regional finish.
Head coach Courtney Deifel has the Razorbacks rolling in her 10th season in Fayetteville and is pursuing a fourth, 40-win season in the last five years. However, the Razorbacks will enter Oxford in search of their first top-25 win of the season. In their one matchup against a top-25 opponent, Arkansas fell, 9-1, in six innings against No. 4 UCLA.
Bri Ellis is off to an enormous start at the plate to lead her side, hitting .555 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI in just 20 games. Ellis is not alone, as the Razorbacks feature countless offensive threats in their lineup that is hitting a collective .371. Courtney Day is another key component of the roster, hitting .426 with eight home runs and 33 RBI. Reagan Johnson is the key player on the bases, with 13 stolen bases and a .379 batting average in 2025.
In the circle, Robyn Herron has been the star of the first half of the season, going 6-0 with a 0.42 ERA. Cam Harrison (3-0, 1.48 ERA) and Payton Burnham (5-1, 1.67 ERA) are also key pieces for the Razorbacks.
The two sides have several common opponents, with the Razorbacks earning run rule wins over Louisiana Tech (9-1), Southern Miss (12-4 & 12-3) and Missouri State (13-2).
The two sides played a highly competitive series in 2024, with the Rebels emerging with a pair of top-10 victories. However, the Razorbacks won the last series in Oxford in 2022 and hold a nine-game edge in the all-time ledger. The all-time series has been close in recent years, with Arkansas taking three of the last eight three-game series and Ole Miss taking five.
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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C/UT
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/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
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LHP
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RHP
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LHP/UT
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INF
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