The Ole Miss Rebels softball team, ranked No. 25 nationally, will participate in the Green & Gold Classic hosted by UAB at Mary Bowers Field this weekend. The Rebels currently hold a 7-4 record and will open the tournament against Mercer on Friday afternoon. Additional matchups include games against Southern Illinois and Missouri State on Saturday, with rematches against both teams scheduled for Sunday.
Freshman Madi George has made an immediate impact for Ole Miss, posting a .485 batting average with four home runs and 14 RBIs through her first 11 collegiate games. Sophomore Persy Llamas is also off to a strong start, hitting .476 with three home runs and 15 RBIs while not recording a strikeout so far this season. Llamas ranks sixth in the nation in total hits and is among the top 35 players in RBIs.
Pitcher Lilly Whitten recently achieved a milestone by throwing a six-inning no-hitter against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, marking only the sixth solo no-hitter in program history. Head coach Jamie Trachsel became the winningest coach in program history earlier this month with her 188th victory.
Senior Kyra Aycock has contributed significantly as well, leading the SEC in complete games and securing four wins early in the season.
Persy Llamas continues to be a key player for Ole Miss after an impressive freshman year that included setting a single-season RBI record alongside teammate Aliyah Binford. Llamas earned All-SEC Second Team honors last season and was named to the All-SEC Preseason Team for 2026. She was also recognized as one of the top-100 players nationally and among the top-10 at her position by Softball America.
Madi George has established herself as one of the top freshmen in the SEC, sharing first place among conference freshmen in home runs and taking over cleanup duties in the lineup.
Lilly Whitten’s performance places her among notable Rebel pitchers who have thrown solo no-hitters, joining Brittany Barnhill, Aliyah Binford, Miali Guachino, Carly Hummel (twice), and Becky Nye.
Ole Miss’s roster features several two-way players under Coach Trachsel’s leadership. Notable additions include Emilee Boyer, who transferred from West Texas A&M after being named Division II National Player of the Year, and Hope Jenkins from UConn. Both are expected to contribute both offensively and as pitchers this season. Freshmen Payton Kennedy and Addi Linton were also added to continue their two-way careers.
Sophomore Mackenzie Pickens returns following a breakout debut last year when she hit .328 with eight home runs. This season she is hitting .353 with two home runs through early action.
Mercer enters the tournament under new head coach Chris Kuhlmeyer after reaching an NCAA Regional final last year. The Bears have started strong offensively but face challenges with pitching depth.
Southern Illinois comes into the event led by fifth-year head coach Jen Sewell following a runner-up finish in last year’s MVC championship. Sydney Potter leads their offense with eight home runs so far this season.
Missouri State has built momentum under second-year head coach Kasey Griffith, riding a six-game win streak ahead of this weekend’s games.
Fans can join Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola through the Ole Miss Sports mobile app to earn points redeemable for prizes by attending events.
For further updates on Ole Miss softball, visit OleMissSports.com or follow their social media accounts on Twitter (@OleMissSoftball), Facebook (Ole Miss Softball), Instagram (@olemisssoftball), or follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter (@Jamie_Trachsel).
