No. 21 Ole Miss softball is set to return to action in Lafayette, Louisiana, for the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational, which kicks off today and runs through Saturday.
The Slate
Thursday: The Rebels (3-2, 0-0 SEC) will begin their tournament with a doubleheader against McNeese (4-1, 0-0 SLC) at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. CT. Tickets for Thursday’s doubleheader against McNeese are priced at $5 and can be purchased using cash or Venmo.
Friday & Saturday: Ole Miss will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-4, 0-0 SLC) at 11:00 a.m. CT. The team will then compete in back-to-back games against the Ragin’ Cajuns (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) at 1:30 p.m. CT at the same time. Saturday’s game will be available for streaming on ESPN Plus.
Leading Off
Ole Miss embarks on another road trip to Louisiana for the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational. This season marks the second consecutive year that the roster includes 16 newcomers—10 transfers and six freshmen. Among the notable transfers are Division II National Player of the Year Emilee Boyer from West Texas A&M, All-Big East honoree Hope Jenkins from UConn, and former Kentucky starting shortstop Cassie Reasner.
Reasner has made an impressive start to her season, boasting a .429 batting average with two home runs and ten RBIs during the Easton Classic; she recorded a total of thirty RBIs last season. Returning players Persy Llamas and Mackenzie Pickens have also made significant contributions after standout freshman campaigns in 2025; Llamas was named to the All-SEC Preseason Team prior to this season’s start.
Both Llamas and Pickens excelled offensively at the Easton Classic—Llamas hit .556 with one home run and seven RBIs while Pickens recorded a .429 average with one home run and three RBIs. Collectively, Ole Miss scored forty runs in their first five games of the season, marking the highest total in program history over that span.
The Next Chapter
After achieving a historic milestone by reaching its first Women’s College World Series in 2025, head coach Jamie Trachsel leads Ole Miss into a new campaign in 2026. While honoring last season’s accomplishments, this year’s team features a revamped roster filled with sixteen newcomers. Coach Trachsel’s squad has garnered respect within collegiate softball circles by earning a consensus top-25 ranking across all four major preseason polls heading into this season.
SCOUTING MCNEESE
Head coach James Landreneau has guided the Cowgirls to four consecutive seasons with at least 40 wins and aims for another successful campaign as McNeese enters the weekend with a 4-1 overall record.
Sophomore two-way player Maddie Taylor is having an impressive start at the plate, boasting a .538 batting average, along with two home runs and eight RBIs. Another significant contributor is Arkansas transfer Rylee Cloud, who is also excelling with a .500 average, one home run, six RBIs, and three stolen bases.
The pitching staff includes three players who faced the Rebels in 2025: Ryann Schexnayder, Taylor, and Kadence Williams. They are joined this season by sophomores Kynlei Chapman and Brookelyn Taylor, both of whom have provided valuable innings. Collectively, McNeese’s pitching unit has allowed opponents to hit .323 against them thus far.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M – CORPUS CHRISTI
Following a challenging 12-36 season in 2025, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi appointed former Maryland head coach Mark Montgomery to lead the team. Under his guidance, the Islanders currently hold a record of 1-4 as they prepare for the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational.
The offense has primarily revolved around seniors Mimi Thornton and Skylar Heger, who are hitting .429 and .385 respectively. Each has driven in four runs, contributing significantly to the team’s total of 14 RBIs this season.
In the circle, junior Kendra Winfrey plays a crucial role for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. She has made four appearances so far this season, posting a record of 1-1 with a 4.73 ERA over 13.1 innings pitched. Notably, Winfrey recorded eight strikeouts during her complete game victory against Stony Brook last week.
SCOUTING LOUISIANA
SCOUTING LOUISIANA
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are gearing up for their second season under head coach Alyson Habetz, who led the team to a 29-25 record in 2025. This year, the team has showcased a dynamic offense that is off to an impressive start.
With a collective batting average of .345, the Ragin’ Cajuns have recorded 10 home runs and driven in 30 runs batted in (RBI). Redshirt freshman Lily Cox has made a notable entrance into her debut season, boasting a .500 batting average along with two home runs and seven RBI. Fellow freshman Haley Hart is also making waves with an impressive .545 average and two home runs. Additionally, Alabama transfer Kennedy Marceaux has quickly established herself as a key player, hitting .400 with two home runs and six RBI since joining the squad.
In contrast, the pitching staff has encountered challenges early in the season, currently holding a combined earned run average (ERA) of 4.75. Julianne Tipton stands out as a bright spot on the mound, maintaining a perfect 2-0 record alongside an impressive 1.40 ERA over three appearances. Lexie Delbrey and Sage Hoover, both transfers from Florida and Texas Tech respectively, are set to make their debuts this season after missing all of 2025 due to injuries.
As the season unfolds, Louisiana’s ability to balance its potent offense with improved pitching will be crucial for their success moving forward.