LUBBOCK, Texas – The Ole Miss softball program is set to open up play in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, competing in the Lubbock Regional, hosted by 11th-seeded Texas Tech from May 15-17 at Tracy Sellers Field.
The Rebels (34-24, 6-18 SEC) open the regional as the No. 2 seed in the regional and are set to face Boston University (46-13, 16-2 Patriot) on Friday at 1 p.m. CT.
The format is double elimination, as the Rebels will face off against either the Red Raiders (52-6, 21-3 Big 12) or Marist (37-19, 24-3 MAAC) on Saturday at a to-be-determined time.
Ole Miss has never missed a Regional under head coach Jamie Trachsel.
LEADING OFF
- Ole Miss is set for its tenth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, competing alongside 11th-seeded Texas Tech, Boston University and Marist in the Lubbock Regional.
- Ole Miss landed four NFCA All-South Region honorees on Thursday, as Madi George and Cassie Reasner earned first team honors, while Persy Llamas took home second team and Emilee Boyer took home third team honors.
- Freshman Madi George (21) set the single season Ole Miss home run record, passing Lexie Brady (17 – 2025). George now has 11 home runs in her last 15 games and also set the total bases record (139) in the win over Southern Miss and RBI record (58) at Auburn.
- The Rebels have hit 79 home runs in 2026, averaging 1.36 home runs per game and setting a new program-record, passing last season’s mark (67). Ole Miss ranks 24th nationally in the figure.
- Defense has become paramount for the Rebels, who are 21-7 when they don’t make an error, versus 13-17 when making one or more errors.
- The Rebels have generated 27 double plays this season, ranking 20th in the nation and third in the SEC. The program record is 28, set in 2017.
- The Rebels are 20-5 this season when issuing just two walks or less, compared to 14-19 otherwise.
TOURNAMENT TIME
After completing one of the most daunting schedules in the nation and securing each of its last two SEC series and two games in the SEC Tournament, the Rebels enter the program’s tenth consecutive NCAA Tournament at the Lubbock Regional.
The Rebels will open against Boston University, a team the program has never faced. The Rebels are 22-21 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, winning the opening game in seven of the nine previous appearances.
The Rebels are also potentially set for a rematch against Texas Tech. In the historic Women’s College World Series run last season, the Rebels ran into the national runner up Red Raiders, falling in a narrow, 1-0 decision.
BEST OF THE BEST
The Ole Miss softball program landed four members of the team on the NFCA All-South Region teams. Freshman Madi George and junior Cassie Reasner were named to the first team, while sophomore Persy Llamas was tabbed to the second team and senior Emilee Boyer lands on the third team.
All but Llamas take home the first such honors of their careers. George and Llamas also landed on the All-SEC second team on Friday.
George becomes the first Rebel freshman to ever be named to the first team in her region. Additionally, George and Reasner become the eighth and ninth Rebels in program history to earn NFCA All-South Region first team honors.
Llamas also joins an exclusive list of Rebels to earn multiple NFCA All-South Region honors, joining Kylan Becker, Elantra Cox, Lauren Grill and Jalia Lassiter.
Over the last two seasons, the Rebels have garnered 10 All-Region honors, with a record-setting six in 2025. The four in 2026 represent the second-highest total in program history.
BOURNE MAGIC
On Friday, May 1, the Ole Miss Softball Stadium officially became the Alisa and Mark Bourne Stadium, through a generous donation from the Bourne family. In the two games that have followed since the naming, the Rebels won both via walk-off home runs from Kennedy Bunker and Rachel Connors against No. 16 Mississippi State.
After not hitting any walk-offs in 2025, the Rebels have had a flair for the dramatic with four, including three at home.
RED HOT REBS
The Rebel are surging to end the season, taking each of the last two SEC series against Auburn and No. 16 Mississippi State, before securing back-to-back wins over No. 23 South Carolina and No. 5 Tennessee in the SEC Tournament. The Rebels have ridden a strong run of pitching, holding opposing teams to 1.67 runs per game over the last six games, with multiple shutouts on back of starter Emilee Boyer.
The offense has also shined, as Ole Miss tallied eight home runs in the series against No. 13 Texas A&M, good for its largest home run total in an SEC series in program history and added seven at No. 15 LSU.
Additionally, freshman Madi George made history, becoming the first Rebel tally a multi-home run game in an SEC game since Paige Smith in 2021 and the first Rebel freshman to accomplish the same feat since Madi Osias in 2013. George did it a second time in the series at LSU.
Tenly Grisham emerged for the Rebels in the SEC Tournament, hitting .444 with an RBI, while making several standout defensive plays in left field since re-entering the starting lineup.
NO HARD KNOX
The Rebels made history on March 28, securing its first ever series win in Knoxville in taking two of three games from No. 4 Tennessee from Mar. 27 to Mar. 29.
The series was marked by tremendous pitching and defense from the Rebels. Emilee Boyer led the way with a complete game victory in game one, while Kyra Aycock outdueled Lady Vols All-American pitching Karlyn Pickens for another complete game victory in game two. On defense, the Rebels backed up their pitchers, generating four double plays alongside tremendous catches from Laylonna Applin and Emilee Boyer.
On offense, the Rebels were powered by home runs from Kennedy Bunker and Madi George, as well as .333 hitting from Persy Llamas and .286 hitting from Applin.
The Rebels got another chance at the Lady Volunteers in the SEC Tournament and did not disappoint, taking the SEC Tournament second round game, 4-1. George delivered two RBI, while Aycock and Boyer combined for seven innings of four-hit softball.
NATIONAL NODS
Freshman Madi George took home a clean sweep of the national freshman of the week honors on April 28, being named D1Softball & Softball on SI’s National Freshman of the Week and Softball America’s Freshman Star of the Week.
George hit a blazing .636 with three home runs and 10 RBI over a 3-1 week for the Rebels, including a multi-home run game in the win over Southern Miss and five RBI in game two at Auburn.
Additionally, George was also named the SEC Freshman of the Week, joining last season’s freshman duo of Mackenzie Pickens and Persy Llamas to earn the award as a Rebel.
FINDING THE FORMULA
The Rebels have found their success when the two middle of the order hitters, Persy Llamas and Madi George, are able to drive in runs. The Rebels are 17-6 when Llamas tallies an RBI and 17-18 when she does not, while the Rebels are 19-9 when George tallies an RBI and 14-16 when she does not.
Additionally, if only one of the two drive in a run, the Rebels are 27-12 in those games and 7-12 overall when neither tallies an RBI.
ACT TWO
Persy Llamas took the SEC by storm as a freshman and returns to anchor an offense with plenty of potent bats in 2026. Llamas not only hit .354 with 10 home runs, 10 doubles and 55 RBI last season, while striking out only 11 times, but also matched teammate Aliyah Binford in setting a new single-season RBI record at Ole Miss that has since been broken by Madi George in 2026.
Her efforts across the postseason were heroic. Llamas went from hitting a three-run blast against No. 4 Florida in the SEC Tournament win, to tallying three home runs in three games against No. 12 Arizona to secure the NCAA Regional, to driving in the first two runs ever scored by the Rebels in a Women’s College World Series against No. 16 Oregon. Llamas took home All-SEC Second Team and NFCA All-South Region Second Team honors following the season.
As a result of her achievements, the nation has paid attention in 2026. Llamas was tabbed to the All-SEC Preseason Team, as well taking home All-SEC Second Team and NFCA All-South Region Second Team honors for the second consecutive season, joining a group of two other Rebels (Kylan Becker and Elantra Cox) to earn multiple All-SEC and NFCA All-Region honors in their career.
This season, Llamas has kept pace, hitting .374 with nine home runs, seven doubles and 39 RBI through 58 games, headlined by a walk-off double in a win over Miami.
In her second run through the postseason, Llamas has picked up where she left off, launching a first inning, solo home run to power the Rebels to a 2-0 opening round win over No. 23 South Carolina in the SEC Tournament.
Llamas already has eyes on the all-time record books at Ole Miss, standing just two home runs away from entering the top-10 in program history. Additionally, her .993 fielding percentage has already put her among the Rebels all-time best.
A STAR IS BORN
After multiple NFCA All-Region honorees from last season’s freshman class, the Rebels have unearthed another freshman star in Madi George.
George has quickly taken over as the cleanup hitter in the early portion of her college career, hitting .384 with 21 home runs, 31 total extra-base hits, 58 RBI and 27 walks. George leads the Rebels in home runs, walks, RBI, doubles, slugging percentage and OBP.
George broke the all-time single season program home run record at Ole Miss against No. 15 LSU, originally held by Lexie Brady in 2025 (17). From there, George (139) broke the total bases record held by Aliyah Binford in 2025 (122) in a win against Southern Miss. George added another single-season mark to her ledger, breaking Aliyah Binford & Persy Llamas’ shared RBI record of 55, by recording her 56th RBI of the season at Auburn.
George’s work has begun to generate national attention. George was one of four from the SEC to be tabbed to the NFCA’s Top-10 Finalists for the National Freshman of the Year award. George is just the second Rebel to ever be named to the top-10 list, joining Hailey Lunderman in 2016. George added more awards with a trio of National Player of the Week honors last week and NFCA All-Region honors.
SCOUTING BOSTON UNIVERSITY
The champions of the Patriot League for the fourth consecutive season, the Boston University Terriers enter the NCAA Tournament as a dangerous three seed. Head coach Ashley Waters has built a northeast powerhouse in her 11th season at the helm.
The Terriers are led by one of the top pitchers in the nation in senior Kasey Ricard. Ricard leads the nation in innings pitched, victories, starts and appearances and is a sterling 32-6 with a 2.81 ERA and 230 strikeouts.
Offensively, the fortunes of the Terriers have largely rested on the shoulders of junior Kylie Doherty. Doherty is hitting a blistering .396 with 26 home runs and 88 RBI, while adding 33 walks. Senior Megan Coyle has added 12 home runs, while fellow senior Brooke Deppiesse is hitting .375 with six home runs and 46 RBI.
SCOUTING MARIST
Marist took home its second consecutive MAAC title to return to the NCAA Tournament this weekend. The Red Foxes will enter the NCAA Tournament on a 17-game winning streak. Head coach Joe Ausanio has built a dynasty at Marist as winners of three of the last four MAAC tournaments.
A fearsome offense, the Red Foxes can hit for average or power. Senior Peyton Pusey leads the way at a .404 batting average, while adding eight home runs and 31 RBI. Fellow senior Haley Ahr is hitting .370 with 16 doubles and 45 RBI, while the Red Foxes also feature power hitters in sophomore Sienna Kunze (13 home runs) and freshman Livia Wiltsie (11 home runs).
Graduate student Ava Metzger leads the way in the circle, going 12-3 with a 2.51 ERA (103.1 IP) and 74 strikeouts, while sophomore Stella Blanchard (12-5, 3.52 ERA) and Anna Sidlowski (10-5, 5.19 ERA) also see plenty of action.
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
Led by one of the best players in the nation in NiJaree Canady, the Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the weekend seeking to build on last season’s national runner up finish. Head coach Gerry Glasco has led the Red Raiders to back-to-back 50-win campaigns and into the national title conversation.
Canady is the headline name, going 22-5 with a 1.24 ERA (146.1 IP) and 209 strikeouts, but the Texas Tech lineup is loaded with talent. UCLA transfer and two-way star Kaitlyn Terry is a sparkling 22-1 and holds a 1.30 ERA (118.1 IP) while also hitting .471 with 10 home runs and 52 RBI.
Florida transfer Mia Williams and Jackie Lis form a power punch in the Red Raiders lineup. Williams is hitting .439 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI, whie Lis is hitting .453 with 17 home runs and 59 RBI. On top of that, the speedy Mihyia Davis (.434 batting average, 34 steals) and power-hitting catcher Jasmyn Burns (17 home runs and 54 RBI) make the Texas Tech lineup extremely dangerous at any time.