Cassie was one of just two Rebels to hit safely versus Oklahoma on Saturday.
The solemn drum beat that has been the soundtrack of the Ole Miss Rebels’ softball season continued here in Oxford on Saturday. The 4th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners defeated the Rebels 10-0 before a packed house at its newly-built softball stadium.
The contest was called due to the mercy rule after six innings.
Sooner fans had a strong presence to say the least, as the Sooners own one of the nation’s best fan followings.
The loss dropped The Rebels to 20-12 overall and to an eye-popping 0-7 inside the conference. Oklahoma improved to 30-2 and to 4-0 inside the conference.
Ole Miss, coming of an historical 2025 season that ended at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, has opened conference play against then No. 4 Alabama, at No. 2 Texas and against No. 4 Oklahoma. Ole Miss has obviously yet to win an SEC contest against one of the most difficult stretch of games in America.
On Saturday, Oklahoma struck for one run in the second and one of the fourth in what was a reasonably competitive game. The Sooners, though, provided themselves with a little distance in the fifth with a three-run outburst that put Ole Miss in a 5-0 hole.
The Rebels best chance of scoring came in the bottom of the fifth when they left runners stranded at second and third.
The top of the sixth proved to be the unraveling for Ole Miss, as Oklahoma pushed across five more runs against Rebel relievers to push its commanding lead to 10-0. The Rebels failed to respond in the bottom of the frame, as the contest was called due to the mercy rule.
Persy Llamas led the Rebels at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort. Shortstop Cassie Reasner accounted for Ole Miss’ only other hit. The Rebels’ three hits all were singles.
Kyra Aycock (8-5) started the game and took the loss in the circle. She lasted 4.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits, walking three and striking out three.
The two teams will go at it again Sunday at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
OUR THOUGHTS
This team could end up being better at the end of the season, and the bet here is that it will be. The treacherous schedule continues, though, as after Oklahoma the Rebels find themselves in a tangle with the No. 1 team in the nation in the Tennessee Volunteers next weekend. The most difficult job for the Ole Miss staff is to keep this group believing in itself as the SEC losses mount early on.