Ole Miss Softball to Host Miami in 2026 Home Opener
The University of Mississippi softball team will open its 2026 home schedule Monday at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium, facing Miami University at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed via SEC Network Plus, and admission is free, celebrating the program’s first Women’s College World Series appearance last season, according to school officials.
The Rebels are 6-4 overall and 0-0 in the SEC, while Miami stands at 5-2 and also begins conference play. This marks the earliest home opener for Ole Miss since 2013, when the team played LSU on Feb. 13, officials said.
Freshman Madi George has emerged as a standout, batting .433 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in her first 10 games. Sophomore Persy Llamas is also performing well, hitting .500 with three homers and 14 RBIs without striking out. Lilly Whitten made history last week, throwing a six-inning no-hitter in a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. She became the sixth Rebel to record a solo no-hitter and the ninth in program history.
Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel became the program’s all-time winningest coach on Feb. 13, earning her 188th victory. The team is averaging 7.7 runs per game through 10 contests, its highest scoring pace since 2017.
Last season, Ole Miss advanced to its first Women’s College World Series, a historic run that has elevated expectations for the 2026 season. The team is led by a roster featuring 16 newcomers, with former standout Persy Llamas returning to anchor the offense. Llamas, who hit .354 with 10 home runs last year, has already maintained a .500 batting average this season and received preseason honors from Softball America.
Pitcher Lilly Whitten has continued her strong start, with a 3-0 record and a 2.25 ERA. The program also emphasizes two-way players, with transfers like Division II National Player of the Year Emilee Boyer and UConn’s Hope Jenkins contributing both offensively and on the mound. Several freshmen, including Payton Kennedy and Addi Linton, have been recognized on the Softball America Freshman Watch List.
Ole Miss will face Miami, the defending MAC champions, which has started its season with two wins over Minnesota and a victory against San Diego State. The RedHawks also fell 8-7 to Kentucky in a close game. Led by head coach Mandy Gardner-Colegate, Miami’s offense features contact hitters like Katy Olive, who is batting .476, and Ella Carter, who has four RBIs and four extra-base hits. The team’s strength lies in its pitching, led by Minnesota transfer Presley Hosick, who has a 2-1 record with a 1.68 ERA.
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