The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, February 5
Fullerton, Calif.
7 PM
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Newcomers Lead the Way as No. 14 Softball Splits With Cal State Fullerton
2/6/2026 | Softball
FULLERTON, Calif. – The No. 14 Ole Miss softball program saw big production from several newcomers, rallying from early adversity to earn a split of a doubleheader against Cal State Fullerton on Thursday night at Anderson Family Field.
The Rebels (1-1, 0-0 SEC) dropped the opener of the Easton Classic to the Titans (1-1, 0-0 Big West), 5-4, but recovered to earn an 11-9 victory in the nightcap.
GAME ONE | No. 14 Ole Miss 4, Cal State Fullerton 5
Thursday began with a bang from the Rebels, who promptly loaded the bases in the first inning. Mackenzie Pickens drew a walk, Persy Llamas recorded the first hit of the season and freshman Madi George reached for the first time with a walk, to set up Cassie Reasner. In her Rebel debut, Reasner laced a single over the head of the first baseman to drive in two and put Ole Miss ahead.
The Titans would strike back in the third inning, with a well-placed single to cut the Rebel lead to 2-1. However, starting pitcher Emilee Boyer navigated out of further trouble to stifle the rally.
The Titans emerged with the lead in the fourth inning, but the Rebels quickly responded in the fifth. A walk by Taylor Malvin and double by Pickens set up newcomer Kennedy Bunker, who tied the game up with a sacrifice fly, making it 3-3.
Despite the response, the Titans quickly retook the lead with a two-run home run, making it 5-3. The Rebels pushed for a response, as Reasner walked and Taylor Roman singled to put pressure on the Titans. A Malvin RBI single cut the lead to one, but the Titans escaped the sixth inning with the lead intact.
Boyer struck out the side in the seventh inning to finish with seven strikeouts in her Rebel debut and gave the offense a chance at a comeback. Singles by Bunker and George put the tying run in scoring position, but the Rebels were unable to bring in the tying run.
GAME TWO | No. 14 Ole Miss 11, Cal State Fullerton 9
The second game of the night got off to a frantic start, with the Rebels taking an early lead. A leadoff single by Tenly Grisham set the tone, as Bunker reached before Llamas drove in the opening run on an RBI double. George tacked on an additional run with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
However, the Titans responded with five unanswered runs, putting the Rebels into a hole. That lead was quickly evaporated in the third inning, as a Pickens walk and Llamas double set up George, who roped a double to score two and cut the lead to 5-4. For good measure, Reasner would tie the game on a sacrifice fly shortly thereafter.
A solo home run by the Titans swung the game back in their favor, but the Rebels took advantage of a defensive lapse in the fourth inning, as Malvin came home on a throwing error to make it 6-6.
The tide turned for good after Kyra Aycock delivered a clean fourth inning and Reasner led off the fifth inning with her first home run as a Rebel to make it 7-6. While a Rebel error off a Titan double in the fifth tied the game once more, the Rebels put the game on ice in the sixth inning.
Pickens and Bunker delivered back-to-back home runs to take a 9-7 lead, but the Rebels would add more, as Llamas and George both singled to set up Reasner. Reasner delivered yet another RBI with a sacrifice fly to make it 10-7. For good measure, Grace Thompson jumped in on the action with an RBI single later in the frame to take an 11-7 lead.
While Cal State Fullerton had one last answer with two runs in the sixth inning, Aycock calmed the storm with an emphatic seventh inning to secure the victory.
The Rebels will be right back in action on Friday, facing off against CSUN at 1 p.m. CT and Boise State at 5 p.m. CT in day two of the Easton Classic.
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 (1-1, 0-0 SEC) dropped the opener of the Easton Classic to the Titans (1-1, 0-0 Big West), 5-4, but recovered to earn an 11-9 victory in the nightcap.
GAME ONE | No. 14 Ole Miss 4, Cal State Fullerton 5
Thursday began with a bang from the Rebels, who promptly loaded the bases in the first inning. Mackenzie Pickens drew a walk, Persy Llamas recorded the first hit of the season and freshman Madi George reached for the first time with a walk, to set up Cassie Reasner. In her Rebel debut, Reasner laced a single over the head of the first baseman to drive in two and put Ole Miss ahead.
The Titans would strike back in the third inning, with a well-placed single to cut the Rebel lead to 2-1. However, starting pitcher Emilee Boyer navigated out of further trouble to stifle the rally.
The Titans emerged with the lead in the fourth inning, but the Rebels quickly responded in the fifth. A walk by Taylor Malvin and double by Pickens set up newcomer Kennedy Bunker, who tied the game up with a sacrifice fly, making it 3-3.
Despite the response, the Titans quickly retook the lead with a two-run home run, making it 5-3. The Rebels pushed for a response, as Reasner walked and Taylor Roman singled to put pressure on the Titans. A Malvin RBI single cut the lead to one, but the Titans escaped the sixth inning with the lead intact.
Boyer struck out the side in the seventh inning to finish with seven strikeouts in her Rebel debut and gave the offense a chance at a comeback. Singles by Bunker and George put the tying run in scoring position, but the Rebels were unable to bring in the tying run.
GAME TWO | No. 14 Ole Miss 11, Cal State Fullerton 9
The second game of the night got off to a frantic start, with the Rebels taking an early lead. A leadoff single by Tenly Grisham set the tone, as Bunker reached before Llamas drove in the opening run on an RBI double. George tacked on an additional run with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
However, the Titans responded with five unanswered runs, putting the Rebels into a hole. That lead was quickly evaporated in the third inning, as a Pickens walk and Llamas double set up George, who roped a double to score two and cut the lead to 5-4. For good measure, Reasner would tie the game on a sacrifice fly shortly thereafter.
A solo home run by the Titans swung the game back in their favor, but the Rebels took advantage of a defensive lapse in the fourth inning, as Malvin came home on a throwing error to make it 6-6.
The tide turned for good after Kyra Aycock delivered a clean fourth inning and Reasner led off the fifth inning with her first home run as a Rebel to make it 7-6. While a Rebel error off a Titan double in the fifth tied the game once more, the Rebels put the game on ice in the sixth inning.
Pickens and Bunker delivered back-to-back home runs to take a 9-7 lead, but the Rebels would add more, as Llamas and George both singled to set up Reasner. Reasner delivered yet another RBI with a sacrifice fly to make it 10-7. For good measure, Grace Thompson jumped in on the action with an RBI single later in the frame to take an 11-7 lead.
While Cal State Fullerton had one last answer with two runs in the sixth inning, Aycock calmed the storm with an emphatic seventh inning to secure the victory.
The Rebels will be right back in action on Friday, facing off against CSUN at 1 p.m. CT and Boise State at 5 p.m. CT in day two of the Easton Classic.
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McCleskey, Trisha (1-0)
L: Boyer, Emilee (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Pickens, Mackenzie 1
RBI: Bunker, Kennedy 1 ; Reasner, Cassie 2 ; Malvin, Taylor 1
SH: Grisham, Tenly 1
SF: Bunker, Kennedy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pickens, Mackenzie 1 ; Llamas, Persy 1 ; Reasner, Cassie 1 ; Malvin, Taylor 1
HBP: Boyer, Emilee 1
Batting:
2B: Coccillos, Sarah 1 ; Lopez, Alexia 1
HR: McClinton, Colby 1
RBI: Perez, Sarah 1 ; McClinton, Colby 2 ; Coccillos, Sarah 2
SH: Perez, Sarah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Verhoef, Kate 1 ; McClinton, Colby 1 ; Ferdman, Briona 1 ; Lozano, Nataly 1 ; Lopez, Alexia 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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4
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rf/ph
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RBI
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Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballHIGHLIGHTS: SB at Cal State Fullerton (Game 2) (02-05-2025)
Friday, February 06
HIGHLIGHTS: SB at Cal State Fullerton (Game 1) (2-5-2025)
Friday, February 06
Trinidad Chambliss Touchdown at Georgia
Saturday, October 18
The Old Youngin's - Mackenzie Pickens and Persy Llamas (SB)
Friday, October 10