The University of Mississippi Athletics
Wednesday, March 25
Oxford, Miss.
5 PM
Ole Miss
vs
UAB
Softball Wraps Homestand, Hosts UAB
3/24/2026 | Softball
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss softball program wraps up a five-game home swing, welcoming UAB for a Wednesday night showdown.
The Rebels (20-14, 0-9 SEC) host the Blazers (12-20, 0-9 AAC) for a 5 p.m. CT clash. The game will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
The Rebels continue a grueling schedule by facing UAB, before opening its fourth consecutive top-five opponent in SEC play in No. 4 Tennessee this weekend. The Rebels own the most difficult schedule in nation in addition to a non-conference strength of schedule of 27.
Ole Miss has six non-conference midweeks remaining as SEC play gets into full gear, with each game generating added importance in the face of at least one more series against a top-10 opponent.
The Rebels have already filled the schedule with road opportunities, going 11-5 outside of Oxford in non-conference play. The Rebels have 15 games remaining against the current RPI top-25, headlined by the top RPI team in the nation in Tennessee.
NATIONAL NODS
The Rebels have earned national recognition has the program gets into March, 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.
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 11-3 when Llamas tallies an RBI and 9-11 when she does not, while the Rebels are 14-3 when George tallies an RBI and 6-11 when she does not.
Additionally, if only one of the two drive in a run, the Rebels are 18-5 in those games and 2-9 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 .378 with five home runs and 27 RBI through 34 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 .991 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 .402 with nine home runs, 15 total extra-base hits, 28 RBI and 19 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP.
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 .365 with five home runs and 35 RBI through her first 34 collegiate games last season.
SCOUTING UAB
After a promising start to the campaign, the UAB Blazers enter the weekend at 12-20 and 0-9 in AAC play, having dropped seven straight games. However, second-year head coach Taylor Smartt has the Blazers playing hard, with several close calls along the way and a gutsty win over Georgia Tech in Atlanta prior to the losing streak.
A more contact oriented offense, the Blazers have hit just 10 home runs, but have four starters hitting over .300 on the season. Senior Ashlyn Shirah has been the most dangerous hitter so far, hitting .313 with three home runs and 20 RBI. Junior Hannah Dorsett leads the team at a .321 batting average, while freshman Charlee Bennett is another key part of the lineup, hitting .306 with a team-high six doubles alongside two home runs and 15 RBI.
The rotation doesn't miss many bats, striking out just 81 over 207.1 combined innings. However, the Blazers have still found tremendous success from its top two arms. Junior lefty Olivia Cummings sees the most action, going 5-6 with a 3.46 ERA (66.2 IP), while senior Caitlin Russell has shined, going 3-5 with a 2.83 ERA (54.1 IP).
Despite the record, the Blazers have been in a number of close games, dropping eight games that were decided by two runs or less and winning five games decided by the same margin. This includes the victory over Georgia Tech, as well as a narrow 3-2 loss to No. 19 South Carolina and six games in AAC play.
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 (20-14, 0-9 SEC) host the Blazers (12-20, 0-9 AAC) for a 5 p.m. CT clash. The game will be streamed via SEC Network Plus.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss hosts UAB to wrap up a five-game home swing, before heading out for five-straight on the road.
- Junior Cassie Reasner enters after a big week in which she hit .500 (5-for-10) over four games with a home run against No. 4 Oklahoma.
- Freshman Madi George has been the breakout star of the season thus far, hitting a sizzling .402 with a team-high nine home runs and 19 walks, while adding 28 RBI through the first 34 games of her career.
- Sophomore Persy Llamas remains hot as well, hitting .378 through the first 34 games with five home runs and 27 RBI. Llamas leads the team with 42 hits and seven doubles.
- The Rebels have hit 40 home runs in 2026, averaging 1.18 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 13-3 when they don't make an error, versus 7-11 when making one or more errors.
- Taylor Roman is in the midst of a breakout campaign in SEC play thus far, hitting .304 with two home runs, a double and six RBI in nine games against No. 4 Alabama, No. 2 Texas and No. 4 Oklahoma.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
The Rebels continue a grueling schedule by facing UAB, before opening its fourth consecutive top-five opponent in SEC play in No. 4 Tennessee this weekend. The Rebels own the most difficult schedule in nation in addition to a non-conference strength of schedule of 27.
Ole Miss has six non-conference midweeks remaining as SEC play gets into full gear, with each game generating added importance in the face of at least one more series against a top-10 opponent.
The Rebels have already filled the schedule with road opportunities, going 11-5 outside of Oxford in non-conference play. The Rebels have 15 games remaining against the current RPI top-25, headlined by the top RPI team in the nation in Tennessee.
NATIONAL NODS
The Rebels have earned national recognition has the program gets into March, 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.
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 11-3 when Llamas tallies an RBI and 9-11 when she does not, while the Rebels are 14-3 when George tallies an RBI and 6-11 when she does not.
Additionally, if only one of the two drive in a run, the Rebels are 18-5 in those games and 2-9 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 .378 with five home runs and 27 RBI through 34 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 .991 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 .402 with nine home runs, 15 total extra-base hits, 28 RBI and 19 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, slugging percentage and OBP.
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 .365 with five home runs and 35 RBI through her first 34 collegiate games last season.
SCOUTING UAB
After a promising start to the campaign, the UAB Blazers enter the weekend at 12-20 and 0-9 in AAC play, having dropped seven straight games. However, second-year head coach Taylor Smartt has the Blazers playing hard, with several close calls along the way and a gutsty win over Georgia Tech in Atlanta prior to the losing streak.
A more contact oriented offense, the Blazers have hit just 10 home runs, but have four starters hitting over .300 on the season. Senior Ashlyn Shirah has been the most dangerous hitter so far, hitting .313 with three home runs and 20 RBI. Junior Hannah Dorsett leads the team at a .321 batting average, while freshman Charlee Bennett is another key part of the lineup, hitting .306 with a team-high six doubles alongside two home runs and 15 RBI.
The rotation doesn't miss many bats, striking out just 81 over 207.1 combined innings. However, the Blazers have still found tremendous success from its top two arms. Junior lefty Olivia Cummings sees the most action, going 5-6 with a 3.46 ERA (66.2 IP), while senior Caitlin Russell has shined, going 3-5 with a 2.83 ERA (54.1 IP).
Despite the record, the Blazers have been in a number of close games, dropping eight games that were decided by two runs or less and winning five games decided by the same margin. This includes the victory over Georgia Tech, as well as a narrow 3-2 loss to No. 19 South Carolina and six games in AAC play.
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
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
LHP/UT
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UT
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