Ole Miss Softball Hosts No. 13 Texas A&M for Key SEC Series
Oxford, Miss. — The Ole Miss softball team hosts No. 13 Texas A&M in a three-game Southeastern Conference series starting Friday evening. The Rebels, with a 26-15 record and 2-10 SEC, welcome the 27-12 Aggies, who sit at 8-4 in conference play.
The series begins at 6 p.m. CT Friday, with games scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. All three contests will be streamed on SEC Network Plus, according to Ole Miss athletics.
Ole Miss is led offensively by junior Cassie Reasner, who recorded two home runs and seven RBIs in a game at Memphis—a program single-game record—before adding another homer at Central Arkansas. Freshman Madi George has been a breakout star, batting .377 with 11 home runs, 34 RBIs and 21 walks. Her home run total ranks in the program’s top 10 for a single season. Sophomore Persy Llamas is hitting .406 through 41 games, with five home runs and 30 RBIs. She leads the team with 54 hits and seven doubles.
Ole Miss’s defense has been a key factor, with the team 16-3 when avoiding errors and 10-12 when committing at least one. The Rebels have hit 50 home runs this season, surpassing last year’s program record of 67 in 63 games.
Ole Miss returned to SEC action after nearly two weeks off, with a notable series victory in Knoxville against No. 4 Tennessee earlier this month. The Rebels won two of three games, thanks to strong pitching and defense, including four double plays and crucial catches. Offensively, home runs from Kennedy Bunker and Madi George fueled the series win.
National recognition has followed, with three Rebels ranked in Softball America’s March Position Power Rankings. Madi George was named the No. 11 utility player nationally, while Persy Llamas and Mackenzie Pickens were ranked as the No. 12 first baseman and No. 14 second baseman, respectively. George also earned the No. 19 outfielder spot in April’s rankings.
Ole Miss’s success depends heavily on its middle-of-the-order hitters. The team is 14-3 when Llamas drives in at least one run and 15-5 when George does so. The Rebels have nine games remaining against top-25 RPI teams, including LSU and Mississippi State, with SEC Tournament play to follow.
Senior Persy Llamas continues to impress, hitting .406 with five home runs and 30 RBIs. Last postseason, she helped the Rebels secure wins against top-ranked opponents and earned All-SEC Second Team honors. Her offensive production has kept pace this season, and she is nearing the program’s top 10 in career home runs.
Freshman Madi George has quickly established herself as a power hitter. With 11 home runs, she leads Ole Miss in several categories and is close to breaking the program’s freshman record for home runs, set in 2007. George has also shown versatility, playing primarily right field and designated hitter.
Texas A&M enters the weekend with a potent offense, led by junior Mya Perez (.455 batting average, 14 home runs, 42 RBIs) and senior Micaela Wark (.361, 16 home runs, 53 RBIs). Other key contributors include seniors Kennedy Powell and Tallen Edwards. The Aggies’ pitching rotation features Sidne Peters and Sydney Lessentine, both with ERAs below 3.00, though their conference ERA is higher at 4.03. The team has struggled with long balls in SEC play, allowing 17 in 12 games.
Ole Miss looks to extend its recent success and secure a series victory over the nationally ranked Aggies in this pivotal SEC matchup.
Source: Original Article
