Ole Miss Softball Heads to Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational with New Roster
LOUISIANA — The Ole Miss softball team is set to compete in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational from Thursday through Saturday on the campus of Louisiana. The Rebels, ranked No. 21, open the tournament with a doubleheader against McNeese on Thursday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time, according to team officials.
Ole Miss’s schedule includes games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday and matchups with the host Ragin’ Cajuns on Friday and Saturday. Saturday’s game will be streamed via ESPN Plus. Tickets for Thursday’s doubleheader are $5, payable in cash or via Venmo, per team instructions.
The Rebels enter the season with a 3-2 record and a roster featuring 16 newcomers, including 10 transfers and six freshmen. Notable transfers include Division II National Player of the Year Emilee Boyer from West Texas A&M, UConn All-Big East honoree Hope Jenkins, and former Kentucky shortstop Cassie Reasner. Reasner has started strong, batting .429 with two home runs and 10 RBIs at the Easton Classic, according to team reports.
Ole Miss’s returning players include NFCA All-South Region honorees Persy Llamas and Mackenzie Pickens. Llamas, who was named to the All-SEC Preseason Team, hit .556 with a home run and seven RBIs at the Easton Classic. She also tallied a .990 fielding percentage at first base and earned All-SEC Second Team honors last season.
Head coach Jamie Trachsel’s team aims to build on last year’s historic run to the Women’s College World Series. The program has earned a consensus top-25 preseason ranking across major polls as it looks to maintain its momentum in 2026.
Among the standout players is Llamas, who last season hit .354 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs. She played a key role in postseason success, including a three-run homer against No. 4 Florida in the SEC Tournament and three home runs in the NCAA Regional against No. 12 Arizona. Her performance has garnered national recognition, including top-100 and top-10 at first base by Softball America this offseason.
The Rebels continue their tradition of developing multi-talented players, with several transfers and freshmen expected to contribute both offensively and defensively. The roster includes multiple two-way players, such as Boyer and Jenkins, who will hit and pitch for Ole Miss. The team also added freshmen Payton Kennedy and Addi Linton, both recognized on the Softball America Freshman Watch List.
Returning star Mackenzie Pickens, who earned All-Region honors last season, is expected to take on an expanded role. She opened the 2026 season batting .429 with a home run and three RBIs, following her impressive debut in 2025, which included a .328 batting average, eight home runs, and 37 RBIs.
Ole Miss also strengthened its pitching and hitting core through the transfer portal, adding 10 new players, including Boyer and Reasner. The team looks to continue its success after a historic 2025 campaign that culminated in a first-ever Women’s College World Series appearance.
Source: Original Article
