The No. 21 Ole Miss softball team has advanced in the NCAA Tournament after a strong showing in the Tucson regional.
On Friday night, a heroic diving catch and plate tag by third baseman Ashton Lansdell in the top of the seventh inning secured a 7-4 Rebel win over Grand Canyon to kick off the team’s stint out west. One day later, Ole Miss brought its bats and swung away to a 10-8 victory over host club No. 13 Arizona, putting Jamie Trachsel’s group in the driver’s seat.
Hey @SportsCenter you might wanna see this
@lansde11 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/rCVzlZKfA9
— Ole Miss Softball (@OleMissSoftball) May 17, 2025
The Wildcats clawed back on Sunday, dominating the Rebels 10-1 in a shortened contest to force a winner-take-all battle. Ole Miss was up for the challenge in enemy territory.
In the regional finale, Aliyah Binford and Mackenzie Pickens each launched two-run long balls to give the visitors a 4-0 advantage in the top of the first inning. Arizona countered with two runs in the bottom of the first, but the effort proved futile as Ole Miss would add on to its lead.
Persy Llamas homered to start the third inning, then Lexie Brady singled and scored after a Mackenzie Pickens double and Ashton Lansdell sacrifice fly, making it a four-run lead once again. The hosts used a solo home run to chip back in the bottom of the third, but an Ole Miss long ball in the top of the fourth neutralized the Wildcat run.
From there, Arizona threatened to score, but valiant pitching and defense by Ole Miss prevented another run from being tacked onto the board. The Rebels walked away 7-3 victors.
POV: You’re going to Supers
@NCAASoftball | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/jY5A3Bg04v
— Ole Miss Softball (@OleMissSoftball) May 19, 2025
Ole Miss will continue its postseason run in the Fayetteville super regional versus a familiar foe in No. 4 overall seed Arkansas. The Rebels took two of three in a series against the Razorbacks earlier this season.
What happened to other Mississippi softball clubs in the postseason?
Jackson State’s season came to an end on Saturday in a 2-1 loss to Belmont. Mississippi State was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament on Sunday after falling to No. Texas Tech 9-6.
